Translating a Battle Flag

Once again I'm turning to you for help in translation a battle flag. Here is what I know about the flag from the dealer:


Is Ookado Takeo the recipient or just a signature from a well wisher? If its not him can you tell me the name of the person to whom the flag was presented? If possible the designation of the unit? Due to age and storage the kanji have blurred or faded significantly. I know it will be difficult to translate.

Pardon my ignorance, I know signed good luck flags are called Yosegaki Hinomaru. What are signed battle flags called?

Included are pictures of the flag and each quadrant. They have been enhanced as far as possible.

Thank you for any help you may provide.
Tim

I have doubts about the authenticity. It's quite odd that "sangyō senshi" is there among slogans only used for army soldiers. Anyway;

Tim Tynan said:

Is Ookado Takeo the recipient or just a signature from a well wisher?

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The latter. Incidentally, the reading of his surmame could be Daimon.

Tim Tynan said:

If its not him can you tell me the name of the person to whom the flag was presented?

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There is no recipient's name.

Tim Tynan said:

If possible the designation of the unit?

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I don't think it's a unit name.

Tim Tynan said:

Pardon my ignorance, I know signed good luck flags are called Yosegaki Hinomaru. What are signed battle flags called?

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It would be called Yosegaki Kyokujitsuki, if it really exists.

Toritoribe said:

I have doubts about the authenticity. It's quite odd that "sangyō senshi" is there among slogans only used for army soldiers. Anyway;

The latter. Incidentally, the reading of his surmame could be Daimon.


There is no recipient's name.


I don't think it's a unit name.


It would be called Yosegaki Kyokujitsuki, if it really exists.

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Thank you Toritoribe. I'm sorry for the slow response I've been researching Japanese military terminology. If you can spare the time there are a few more question to ask.

First: You said it was odd to find "sangyo senshi" among the slogans. What exactly does it mean? Why is it odd to you?
Second: Was the dealer's interpretation of a unit 12 FG correct? It so would you have any idea of what FG might stand for?
Last: Was the dealer correct that this a celebratory flag for a returning soldier? If not would you have any idea what type of flag this might be?

Thank you for your patience and help.
Tim

Sangyo Senshi 産業戦士 Industrial Warrior
"12FG" Why would a Japanese person, a soldier, use an alphabet abbreviation for an English military term? Use of English was prohibited (or severely restricted) during war time, so why would a patriotic Japanese use an abbreviation for Field Gun, especially where there are Japanese terms that would be more acceptable?
What would a commercial or "industrial warrior" be doing with a field gun anyway? If he's manning a field gun, he's not a commercial warrior, he is a regular soldier.

My feeling; the dealer doesn't know what he has, and neither do we. He is telling a story with some plausible bits in order to present his item as a war relic. People who are eager to believe will inflate the plausibility, and their enthusiasm will overcome the incredulity, suspicion and hesitation they should have when buying antiques.

Thank you.

I agree with you completely about the FG designation, I thought he was just using some literary license to explain the flag. This is the first I've heard of "commercial" or "industrial worker" so I've no knowledge.

If he were in construction/engineering I thought his unit might have been attached to an army unit to build defenses. Once finished they were transferred elsewhere but this is all supposition.

Thank you again for all your help Toritroibe
Tim