Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent condition Japanese Naval Junior Officer's Visor hat. It has a body of dark blue wool with a black ribbed cotton cap band. Center of cap features a bullion wire embroidered Japanese Naval Anchor insignia surrounded by Laurel leaves and a "Cherry Blossom" above the anchor, so this is for a front line officer, and not a reserve officer, who would have a "nautical star" instead. It even comes with a very good condition white cover for the crown, which would be installed depending on the color uniform worn.

The black lacquered visor shows little sign of wear, with a great finish. There is just a bit of bubbling near the front trim. The chin strap looks to be made of faux leather finished pressed paper or fabric, and is in excellent condition, with no flaking or other deterioration. It is held in place by the correct IJN buttons with a Cherry Blossom and Anchor.

The interior is lined in purple rayon cloth (typically missing), with the cheesecloth reinforcement underneath. There is a name hand embroidered into top of the liner, though we are unfortunately not able to read it. The sweatband looks to be black finished thin leather, and is in great shape. This does not look to have seen much service at all before being brought back by a USN Veteran.

The transit tin is made from galvanized steel, and has the Japanese cherry blossom insignia on the top. It measures about 9 1/2" across and is 4 1/2" tall. condition is quite good, with the expected dents from service and being brought back to the united states. It still correctly fits onto the bottom securely.

There is a plastic cover inside of the case, which was originally for the cap, but the elastic has failed, so it no longer can go on the cap. Included with the cap is also a U.S. 5 CENTAVO coin from the Philippine islands dated 1944, as well as an Imperial Japanese Navy post card, with a stamp already on it.

A very nice Imperial Japanese Navy officer's cased cap with some interesting accessories, ready to display!

The Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II, at the beginning of the Pacific War in December 1941, was the third most powerful navy in the world, and the naval air service was one of the most potent air forces in the world. During the first six months of the war, the Imperial Japanese Navy enjoyed spectacular success inflicting heavy defeats on Allied forces, being undefeated in every battle. The attack on Pearl Harbor crippled the battleships of the US Pacific Fleet, while Allied navies were devastated during the conquest of Southeast Asia. Japanese naval aircraft were also responsible for the sinkings of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse which was the first time that capital ships were sunk by aerial attack while underway. In April 1942, the Indian Ocean raid drove the Royal Navy from South East Asia. After these successes, the Japanese now concentrated on the elimination and neutralization of strategic points from where the Allies could launch counteroffensives against Japan's conquests. However, at Coral Sea the Japanese were forced to abandon their attempts to isolate Australia while the defeat at Midway saw them forced on the defensive. The campaign in the Solomon Islands, in which the Japanese lost the war of attrition, was the most decisive; they had failed to commit enough forces in sufficient time.

During 1943 the Allies were able to reorganize their forces and American industrial strength began to turn the tide of the war. American forces ultimately managed to gain the upper hand through a vastly greater industrial output and a modernization of its air and naval forces. In 1943, the Japanese also turned their attention to the defensive perimeters of their previous conquests. Forces on Japanese held islands in Micronesia were to absorb and wear down an expected American counteroffensive. However, American industrial power become apparent and the military forces that faced the Japanese in 1943 were so overwhelming in firepower and equipment, that from the end of 1943 to 1944 Japan's defensive perimeter failed to hold. Defeat at the Philippine Sea was a disaster for Japanese naval air power with American pilots terming it, the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot,  while the battle of Leyte Gulf led to the destruction of a large part of the surface fleet. Consequently, the Japanese lost control of the Western Pacific. During the last phase of the war, the Japanese resorted to a series of desperate measures, including a variety of Special Attack Units which were popularly called kamikaze. By May 1945, most of the Imperial Japanese Navy had been sunk and the remnants had taken refuge in Japan's harbors. By July 1945, all but one of its capital ships had been sunk in raids by the United States Navy. At the end of the war, the IJN had lost 334 warships and 300,386 officers and men.