Original Item: One-of-a-kind. Just purchased from a Pacific War collector at a military show! This hand painted silk flag is marked with battle quotes such as "Banzai", and "Good Luck for bravery", and has a lovely service worn look.  As with most good luck flags, it is marked with 久 長 運 武, which reads Bu un Chou kyu ("May your military fortunes be long lasting.") on the right edge, read from bottom to top. Above this is the character 祈, which means "Prayer", so this particular flag is praying for good luck in battle.

The flag is signed with the names of many friends and family, some of which radiate out from the center of the flag. The flag measures approximately 29" x 33", and is most likely made of rayon cloth, and early wood-based synthetic fiber, with the red "sun" dyed into the middle. Flag is in very good condition and is the real deal: a genuine USGI "bring back"! 

The flag itself is good shape, but does show wear from service and age. There are some stains and small gears on the body, and the edges show wear and some tearing. The flag looks to have been hung up in the field, and then torn down, which has removed one one corner of the flag, as shown. However, the writing is still quite legible, and this would make a fine display piece for a wall or glass table. 

Ready to display!

The Good Luck Flag, known as hinomaru yosegaki (日の丸 寄せ書き) in the Japanese language, was a traditional gift for Japanese servicemen deployed during the military campaigns of the Empire of Japan, though most notably during World War II. The flag given to a soldier was a national flag signed by friends and family, often with short messages wishing the soldier victory, safety, and good luck.

The Japanese call their country's flag hinomaru, which translates literally to "sun-round", referencing the red circle on a white field. When the hinomaru was signed, the Japanese characters were usually written vertically, and radiated outward from the edge of the red circle. This practice is referenced in the second term, yosegaki, meaning "sideways-writing". The phrase hinomaru-yosegaki can be interpreted as "To write sideways around the red sun", describing the appearance of the signed flag. This particular example completely unique is written in old KANJI the writing are mainly Japanese names of this soldier's family and friends with quotes and phrases.