Antique & Militaria

*Original*WW2 Japanese Soldier’s 'Yosegaki Hinomaru' (Or Good Luck) Back Pack Battle Flag With Maker’s Ink Stamp, Main Dedication Roughly Translates To “Eternal Good Fortune In Battle, May Your Military Luck Last Long” With Many Other Hand Written Kanji. - 23265:2

This is an original WW2 Japanese 'yosegaki hinomaru' or good luck Battle Flag. This size of flag 30” x 27” were carried in Soldiers back packs and tied to their rifles when attacking enemy positions. These flags were signed by family members, friends & Colleagues of Japanese Soldiers and presented to them before leaving for war. It is made of white cotton and has a central vivid red painted roundel surrounded many Japanese kanji signatures. Many of the kanji overlap and are illegible, We have been able to roughly translate some in image 2 as follows: Main Dedication: “Eternal good fortune in battle” / “May your military luck last long.”: Top left: Certain victory: Praying for your military fortune: Kojima (a surname): Yoshida (surname): Kawahara (surname): Nakamura (surname). Large vertical writing (right side) & Bottom-left vertical strip, names include: Sato: Yamaguchi: Watanabe: Yokoyama, many additional signatures appear but are too stylized for reliable translation. Bottom under sun: Praying for your good fight / brave effort: Prayer for certain victory: Advance bravely: Praying for your military fortune. Dozens more appear on the flag, but the handwriting varies significantly and is illegible. There is also a faint red ink stamp which is illustrated in image 1 most likely a maker or military stamp. The flag has some staining consistent with age to be expected. 2 corners of the flag have their original stitched leather tabs with original hanging cords. The flag has no holes or mothing. The price for this excellent WW2 Japanese flag with profuse names and good luck slogans includes UK delivery. Sn 23265:2

£495.00