Need translation on Japanese honorary life preserver

[pogo]

 

[Uncle Frank]

Come on people ! Dying to know what this says??

 

[mdchachi]

大日本帝國海軍 = Imperial Japanese Navy
梨 = Pear
護衛 = Escort / Guard / Convoy
駆逐艦 = Destroyer

I have no idea how "Pear" (nashi) fits in. Nickname? Group moniker? A surname?

 

[mdchachi]

Maybe it's shorthand for this dude, Tokioki Nashiba.

 

[nice gaijin]

Or could be this ship, a former destroyer that was later recommissioned the Escort ship "Wakaba"

梨 (樅型駆逐艦) - Wikipedia

ja.wikipedia.org

梨(駆逐艦)

梨とは橘型駆逐艦（丁型駆逐艦）の10番艦(メイン画像手前)。後に海上自衛隊に編入され護衛艦「わかば」となった。

dic.pixiv.net

Found by searching for "梨 軍艦"

 

[Majestic]

I think mdchachi and nicegaijin both just jumped a pay grade.

 

[pogo]

大日本帝國海軍 = Imperial Japanese Navy
梨 = Pear
護衛 = Escort / Guard / Convoy
駆逐艦 = Destroyer

I have no idea how "Pear" (nashi) fits in. Nickname? Group moniker? A surname?

Do you know what the significance of the life preserver is--does it commemorate an event? Is this "old" Japanese or current? Could this be from WW 2? Do you know what the symbols on either side of the "Pear" mean? Thanks for your reply!

 

[nice gaijin]

Do you know what the significance of the life preserver is--does it commemorate an event? Is this "old" Japanese or current? Could this be from WW 2? Do you know what the symbols on either side of the "Pear" mean? Thanks for your reply!

I don't know about the significance of the wooden life preserver, beyond decoration... initial searches don't bring up anything.

Since it has the old name it's probably from the wartime. I went and checked the list of ships to see how many Nashi (梨) show up, and there seem to be two: a first-class and a second-class destroyer. I realized that the links I provided are actually for two different ships: the wikipedia article I linked to above is actually about the second-class one, and says that it was decommissioned in February 1940 and later dismantled. The other link redirects to the entry for the Wakaba, so that's the same ship as the one from the other link.

This ship was built in 1945 and sank in July that year. 38 were killed in action and a total of 60 sailors were lost with the ship, leaving 155 survivors. The ship was later salvaged in 1954 and found to be in relatively good shape despite spending a decade under water and nearly being left to become an artificial reef. It was patched up and sold to the defense force in 1956, and in 1958 recommissioned as the B-type guard ship "Wakaba (DE-261)", the third of its name. It has the distinction of being the only Imperial Navy combatant ship to be enrolled in the Maritime Self Defense Force after the war.

From the wiki article:

A memorial service is held every July on Heigun Island. 1987 (1987) October 25, is to be erected a monument to the coast overlooking the sinking point of "pear", unveiling ceremony was performed [15]​ .

If we could establish that this is indeed from the same ship, it may be an amazing gift to return it for the memorial. I imagine a group like the Obon society may be able to arrange this.

 

[pogo]

I don't know about the significance of the wooden life preserver, beyond decoration... initial searches don't bring up anything.

Since it has the old name it's probably from the wartime. I went and checked the list of ships to see how many Nashi (梨) show up, and there seem to be two: a first-class and a second-class destroyer. I realized that the links I provided are actually for two different ships: the wikipedia article I linked to above is actually about the second-class one, and says that it was decommissioned in February 1940 and later dismantled. The other link redirects to the entry for the Wakaba, so that's the same ship as the one from the other link.

This ship was built in 1945 and sank in July that year. 38 were killed in action and a total of 60 sailors were lost with the ship, leaving 155 survivors. The ship was later salvaged in 1954 and found to be in relatively good shape despite spending a decade under water and nearly being left to become an artificial reef. It was patched up and sold to the defense force in 1956, and in 1958 recommissioned as the B-type guard ship "Wakaba (DE-261)", the third of its name. It has the distinction of being the only Imperial Navy combatant ship to be enrolled in the Maritime Self Defense Force after the war.

From the wiki article:

If we could establish that this is indeed from the same ship, it may be an amazing gift to return it for the memorial. I imagine a group like the Obon society may be able to arrange this.

Your response is much appreciated and helpful, especially pointing out the Obon Society. I also have an item from the I 64 that I am going to post. The Obon Society may prove useful with this as well. I tried twenty years ago to find a venue to return this as well.

 

[pogo]

The writing is on the underside of the lid on this ceremonial tea box.

 

[Majestic]

I hesitate to do this one because the other gents are on a roll.

(I honestly couldn't make out the final kanji in 駆逐艦, even though now, in hindsight, it seems obvious. And I thought 梨 was actually 製.)

Having said that: the inscription for the lacquer box above seems to be
贈三角君　呂号第六十四潜水艦乗員一同
To Mr. Misumi
From the crew of RO-64 Submarine.

Japanese submarine Ro-64 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[pogo]

a long time ago it was identified as I 64, could have been an assumption maybe. Always has been a mystery my dad was a merchant mariner during the war and I always remember it being in the house and I am eighty two , no one could provide an answer.to the origin. Not sure if it was for serving Saki, tea or what ever.

 

[Majestic]

There was an "I class" of submarine, but this is from the Ro class. It looks like a lunch box and tray. The motif of central circle surrounded by 8 smaller circles is a family crest. It would have been the crest of the Misumi family.
(The name could also be read as "Mikado", but somehow I think Misumi is probably the more common reading)

九曜紋

九曜紋

www.waichiba.com

 

[mdchachi]

I think mdchachi and nicegaijin both just jumped a pay grade.

I failed the nashi test.

 

[nice gaijin]

I failed the nashi test.

It's ok, I've been on a roll lately. No one can compear

 

[pogo]

I see no Ko class sub with that number?

 

[Uncle Frank]

Makes me want to buy some of the books on Japanese subs and their interesting history.

 

[Majestic]

"Ko" class?
It's Ro class (呂), as I mentioned in my post, and I even posted a link to the sub in question.

 

[pogo]

Got it, thank you.