Identify Japanese Good Luck Flag
- Thread starter spc63
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- 12 Oct 2013
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Hello Stephen
This is the correct orientation for the flag.
The big letters vertically down the right side of the flag are 祈武運長久 (Inoru bu-un chōkyū). It means "praying for good luck in war". The rest of the writing on the flag are names. I don't know why it says "Hawaii" on the flag. Maybe it was at one time the property of some vet who lived in Hawaii?
Other than that there is not much information on the flag that would give us any clues about the flag's origin (who it was given to, where, when)
This is the correct orientation for the flag.
The big letters vertically down the right side of the flag are 祈武運長久 (Inoru bu-un chōkyū). It means "praying for good luck in war". The rest of the writing on the flag are names. I don't know why it says "Hawaii" on the flag. Maybe it was at one time the property of some vet who lived in Hawaii?
Other than that there is not much information on the flag that would give us any clues about the flag's origin (who it was given to, where, when)
- Thread starter
- #3
Thank you so much. The following photos came with the flag.
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- 12 Oct 2013
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Very interesting. You may consider posting some of these photos on specialist militaria forums, where they might recognize some of the buildings or insignia on the uniforms. From what I can see, it looks like the soldier was first stationed in Manchuria (that's what I guess by looking at the fur hats and the railroad). Then he was shipped to the Philippines as Japan was realizing that they needed more manpower in the Philippines to stop/slow the Americans there.
pic 9440
昭和十三年二月二十八日
結婚記念
Feb 28, 1938
Wedding Picture
pic 9442
Censor stamp from December 10th, 1943
pic 9436
昭和九年度
檐架修業央
二十二名
1934
I'm not sure, but I think 檐架 is the name of a city in China/Manchuria that I can't pronounce, and the group has just finished some training. 22 people. The rest are the names of the people. Embossed on the photo is the name of a photography studio "Yachiyo Studio". Embossed under that is the location name, but all I can make out is Matsushima Town. Matsushima Town is a common name...could be anywhere (kind of like "Elm Street"...there are a million Elm streets in the US.)
If I search for the name of the city in China I only get one hit, and that is from a document describing the movements of the 2nd Artillery Division of Mito . Its quite possible that its not the name of a city, and has some obscure war-related meaning. It doesn't appear in any Japanese online dictionaries, so that is why I think it is the name of a city/location in China. Coincidentally (or not) the 2nd Artillery Division was also sent to the South Pacific after a tour of duty in Manchuria.
You could also consider sending the items to the Obon Society to see if they can identify the owner. They usually require the physical items, and the items will not be returned to you (even if they fail to find the owner). Or, the Japanese embassy nearest you may also have some information about repatriating war items. If you just want more information, you could consider some war-related forums, as I mentioned. One forum called War Relics has a section on Japanese militaria.
pic 9440
昭和十三年二月二十八日
結婚記念
Feb 28, 1938
Wedding Picture
pic 9442
Censor stamp from December 10th, 1943
pic 9436
昭和九年度
檐架修業央
二十二名
1934
I'm not sure, but I think 檐架 is the name of a city in China/Manchuria that I can't pronounce, and the group has just finished some training. 22 people. The rest are the names of the people. Embossed on the photo is the name of a photography studio "Yachiyo Studio". Embossed under that is the location name, but all I can make out is Matsushima Town. Matsushima Town is a common name...could be anywhere (kind of like "Elm Street"...there are a million Elm streets in the US.)
If I search for the name of the city in China I only get one hit, and that is from a document describing the movements of the 2nd Artillery Division of Mito . Its quite possible that its not the name of a city, and has some obscure war-related meaning. It doesn't appear in any Japanese online dictionaries, so that is why I think it is the name of a city/location in China. Coincidentally (or not) the 2nd Artillery Division was also sent to the South Pacific after a tour of duty in Manchuria.
You could also consider sending the items to the Obon Society to see if they can identify the owner. They usually require the physical items, and the items will not be returned to you (even if they fail to find the owner). Or, the Japanese embassy nearest you may also have some information about repatriating war items. If you just want more information, you could consider some war-related forums, as I mentioned. One forum called War Relics has a section on Japanese militaria.
- 22 Feb 2008
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pic 9436
擔架修業兵
擔 is the traditional form of 担, thus, 擔架修業兵 means "soldiers who are learning how to carry wounded soldiers on the battlefield".
docsplayer.net
Is it possible to give us a close-up of the black board on the upper side of the entrance on the pic 9435? The location name or something might be written there.
擔架修業兵
擔 is the traditional form of 担, thus, 擔架修業兵 means "soldiers who are learning how to carry wounded soldiers on the battlefield".
陸軍看護制度の成立史 P138
陸軍看護制度の成立史 - PDF 無料ダウンロード
陸軍看護制度の成立史 国士舘大学審査学位論文鈴木紀子 平成二六年度博士論文陸軍看護史学制度の成立名:鈴木紀子提2氏籍番号:11 DH00二七年四月出日:平成0 目次序論 四第Ⅰ 部陸軍看護制度成立前史第一章戊辰戦争前史一 小石川療養所 の女看病人 二一二 長崎養生所 と看護 二四三 横浜梅毒病院 の介抱女 二九第二章従軍から教訓へ一松本良順の会津戦争 三九二英医ウィリアム ウィリスの救護活動 四三三人道主義への提言
Is it possible to give us a close-up of the black board on the upper side of the entrance on the pic 9435? The location name or something might be written there.
- 21 May 2003
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Hmm, it wouldn't be the location name.
the upper three kanji on the left column
下士官
non-commissioned officers
the upper three kanji on the right column
？士官
the three kanji on the bottom
集會所
assembly hall
the upper three kanji on the left column
下士官
non-commissioned officers
the upper three kanji on the right column
？士官
the three kanji on the bottom
集會所
assembly hall
- Thread starter
- #8
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- 21 May 2003
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Yes, that's helpful, but unfortunately, it's not the location name.
the upper three kanji on the right column
準士官
warrant officers
pic 8053
長春
臼井護写
Changchun
(this photo was) shot by Usui Mamoru
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- 12 Oct 2013
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Wow. As the kids say, I was today years old when I learned this.
Dentanmono
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- 18 Dec 2022
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Think there are a couple facebook groups if you use Meta stuff, Banzai being the largest of them that have some people who might be able to help regarding the uniforms/other info. Think you could get away with posting it to a sword specific group like Military Swords of Japan if you were to ask about the pictures with swords and someone might give you some additional info on the unit.
