Original Item: Only One Available. This is an exceptional original Japanese WWII hinomaru yosegaki, or signed Good Luck flag, measuring approximately 27 ¼ x 35 ½ inches and covered with the handwritten names and well wishes of dozens of the departing serviceman’s relatives, friends, coworkers, and associates, and a gorgeous temple stamp. The inscriptions remain unusually clear throughout, and the flag retains both original leather corner reinforcements and tie strings. Most importantly, the fiber has been tested and confirmed to be silk, rather than rayon or another artificial fabric.

The largest inscription across the upper portion has been translated as Prayers for Eternal Good Fortune in War. Next to this phrase is a gorgeous square-shaped Temple Stamp with a great wavy design in the square and Japanese characters in a central circle. This is a great research opportunity. The largest name on the flag at the far right corner is likely the owner of the flag, which translates as Tsurumaki Noboru.

Another well-wish is found within the signatures, reading Loyalty to the Emperor and Love for the Country. We attempted to translate some of the signatures, including Tsurumaki Shichiro, Suzuki Shinsaku, Kurita Hidekichi, Kurita Namikichi, Suga Gen’ichi, Honma Saburo, Suzuki Shinki, Sumi Kakuji, Ando, Tanida, Shuyama, Goto Saburo, Nishida Tatsugoro, Matsumura Tetsujiro, and Suzuki Setsu.

The flag measures roughly 27 ¼ x 35 ½” and retains both of its original corner reinforcements which are leather, though there are some small holes in the leather. Both retain their tie strings. The flag has the normal fold creases and moderate staining. This is likely a battlefield-pickup example.

The Good Luck flag, known in Japanese as a hinomaru yosegaki, was traditionally presented to a departing serviceman by family members, friends, coworkers, classmates, and members of his local community. Each signer contributed a name or short message, creating a deeply personal keepsake intended to accompany the recipient during his military service.

The Japanese national flag is commonly called the hinomaru, referring to the red sun disc on a white field. The word yosegaki describes a collection of inscriptions written by multiple people. On wartime examples, the writing was often arranged vertically and radiated outward from the central sun.

This example is particularly noteworthy for the combination of its confirmed silk construction, named recipient Tsurumaki Noboru, prominent 祈武運長久 inscription, religious or devotional seal, numerous surviving signatures, leather corner reinforcements, and complete tie strings. The unusually clear inscriptions provide excellent potential for further translation, family research, and possible identification of the recipient’s community.