Original Item: One-of-a-kind. Purchased directly from a collector, this is definitely one of the most interesting example of a hand painted Japanese "Good Luck" flag we have had. Like most, it is marked with multiple phrases with battle quotes such as "Good Luck" and "Bravery", and is signed with the names of many friends and family. However, it also has a very interesting caricature of an older man in the lower left hand corner, complete with a beard and bushy eyebrows. We have never seen anything like it!

The flag measures approximately 34" x 28", and is made of what appears to be standard linen cloth, with the red sun dyed onto the center. Flag is in excellent condition and is the real deal: a genuine USGI "bring back"!  It does have a small amount of staining in areas, and a few pin holes, but nothing major. The corner ties and reinforcements are fully intact.

Definitely a unique flag, ready to own and display!

The Good Luck Flag, known as hinomaru yosegaki 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.