New Yosegaki flag

[Mikemike88]

@Majestic @NANGI

Dear all

I have secured a new flag for the collection. I should have it by the start of next month but for now these are the photos I have of it. It's from a UK seller. Size is 83x68cms.

I'll post some clearer pictures once it arrives but interested to hear initial thoughts.

Thank you in advance for taking time to consider this item.

 

[Majestic]

Hello Mike,

I think it looks good. I was a bit skeptical at first because there are so many slogans on there it seemed as if it was trying too hard to be an authentic piece of militaria. But on closer look I think the recipient is Uchida Morimasa (内田守正), whose name appears in the line to the left of what is a poem by Emperor Meiji that one of the well-wishers has written here on this flag as a message of encouragement - so with an identifiable recipient I think its probably a good one. But wait to see what Nangi-san says as he is a native and can catch things that I can't.

弓矢もて神の治めし我が國にうまれしをのこ心ゆるぶな (some spellings on the flag is different)
O men, born in this land of Japan, Governed by gods with bow and arrow, Never let your hearts grow lax.*
*AI-generated translation. I don't think I could do better. Astonishingly good.

Also on the right in large letters is another phrase of martial encouragement:

一於武士道おくれ取申間鋪事 (again, some spellings are different)
One must never lag behind in the Way of Bushido*
*Another AI translation.

The stamp is from the Tamanooya-jinja shrine

Tamanooya Jinja - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

So I'm giving this one a thumbs up

 

[NANGI]

Konnichiwa Mikemike88-san!

It is very carefully made, and I can't find anything that would make me suspect it's a fake. I think it have been made in 1944 or 1945.

If I have just one doubt, it's about the last photo. The writing in the last photo "公 in the circle" is a price control tag. In pre-war Japan, in order to curb the soaring prices of daily necessities caused by material shortages, standard prices were set for each product.

Similar to price tags in modern times, they are usually removed after purchase. Yet, the tag is still attached to this flag. It feels strange, like wearing clothes with the price tag still attached.

NANGI

 

[Mikemike88]

@Majestic @NANGI Thank you both. It's reassuring to hear your comments about the flag.

Re the slogans on the flag I assume then that there are additional slogans on the flag beyond those @Majestic has already highlighted. I appreciate that the images are not great and I shall post better photos once I receive the flag in a couple of weeks.

@NANGI Concerning the paper tag, I understand what you are saying and although I have never personally owned (until now) a flag with the paper tag still attached I have seen other examples of this on other yosegaki flags I've seen online. In this instance the tag does seem to carry the right degree of 'patina' in keeping with the age of the flag.

Also can I ask what you mean by 'it's very carefully made'? Are you referring to the arrangement of the kanji on the flag or to the writing of the kanji itself?

Thank you both once again for taking this time to consider one of my flags.

 

[NANGI]

Konnichiwa Mikemike88-san!

The shrine's seal is in the upper right corner. This shrine is the most prestigious shrine in Suō Province. And beneath the seal, a waka poem that is works by Emperor is written by the chief priest. It also has the chief priest's signature.

Anyone who visits a shrine can obtain a shrine seal. However, I don't think it's easy to get on the chief priest's handwritten waka poems or autograph.

Because counterfeit goods are mass-produced, many of them have the same handwriting, and because they are written in haste, many of the letters are faded.

But there are no characters that can be immediately identified as being in the same handwriting on the flag. The signature is neatly written, and not a single letter that is faded.

Along with names, many messages are written. It's a shame that almost all of them are slogans, and some even contain inappropriate words like "玉砕", but I can tell that they were made with great effort.

Considering all of the above, I felt that this flag was made with great care.

NANGI

 

[Mikemike88]

@NANGI Thank you very much for this . That's so interesting.

 

[Mikemike88]

I now have the flag and here are some better images
.

 

[Mikemike88]

@NANGI Greetings. I was wondering if the highlighted entry is kanji or if it's something else I.e. it reminds me of a dragonfly? Thanks.
PS I've posted some additional images above.

 

[NANGI]

Konnichiwa Mikemike88-san!

Thank you for all the photos and I think the highlighted entry is a "Kaou:花押".

A "Kaou or kaō" is a symbol or stylized signature used as a substitute for a handwritten signature.

NANGI

 

[Mikemike88]

@NANGI Ah, ok. I haven't come across that before. Thank you for that insight.