Is anyone else interested in these? I have one in my collection, and have always been fascinated by them. They were medium sized, normally light silk flags given to departing soldiers as a good luck charm by friends and relatives. Many of them were inscribed with religious slogans, and personal greetings written in Japanese kanji characters. Some also have stamps and even drawings on them. Japanese soldiers carried them into battle, and they were popular trophies for Marines and GIs in the Pacific. Japanese soldiers weren't much for surrendering, so the flags often have bullet/shrapnel holes and ominous stains. Here is mine...sorry for the crappy pic. Maybe I should sell it to buy a good camera
Last edited by Andy Hopkins; 05-23-2002 at 06:19 AM.
Andy, I have one almost identical to yours. I have planned to have it translated sometime. My Japanese collection includes the flag, a near mint helmet, and a model 99 rifle and bayonet.
I had a real nice one, but sold it=[. I really like these flags, they really ment something to the soilder that carried them. There is a local Korean Vet that I talk to, His brother was in the pacific in wwII and brought one back of a man he killed to get it, the flag is coverd in blood.
Andy if you do want to sell yours let me know I just got an officers sword and the flag would go great with it.
Hi Andy, I have one of these too, again almost a clone of yours! They are not so common overhere in the UK, as they are in the USA. I purchased mine quite a few years ago now at an Arms fair. It came with the some of the soldier's other personnel effects; a photo of him in uniform, a Corporals collar patch, some "banana money", two tassels from a sword bag and a nice ivory cigarrete holder studded with coloured glass "jewels". I paid £50 for the lot.
Last year, via this forum, I met a Japanese collector who very kindly translated the flag for me.
I think that they are nice interesting items and a very personnel reminder of the some Mothers son who, most likely, did not get to go home.
Cheers, Ade.
Yes indeed I collect signed flags and signed so called "go to war banners", last count on the signed flags is 9 or 10 they are all different features some have temple stampings some signed bayo flags, kangi on the meatball heavily signed hardly signed, ripped and torn. Very interesting part of the "cult" of war.
Japanese personal 'kanji" flags
Linear Mode
