Item Description
Original Item: One-of-a-kind. Just purchased from a Pacific War collector at a military show! This hand painted cloth flag is marked with battle quotes, usually phrases such as "Banzai", and "Good Luck". 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 hand side, second line from the edge, written bottom to top. Above this is the character 祈, which means "Prayer", so this particular flag is praying for good luck in battle.
These flags typically have additional phrases, and names written on them, but we have rarely seen a flag with THIS MUCH writing. It is almost completely covered with names, sayings, many radiating out from the "sun", all around the flag. The handwriting even shows some "script" style writing, and many different styles, so this was signed by a lot of different people. This would make an excellent, if challenging, translation project for someone who can read the pre-1945 Kanji.
The flag measures approximately 27" x33", and is made of sturdy light rayon type cloth, with the red "sun" dyed into the middle. Flag is in good condition and is the real deal: a genuine USGI "bring back"!
The flag itself has some stains and small holes, as well as overall age toning. The corner ties are present, and the corner reinforcements are not present. There are some stains from when the flag was folded up, which are in multiple places on the flag. There are smaller stains as well, giving it a lovely service worn look. This is definitely a flag that was "really there", and has the wear to prove it!
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 writings are mainly Japanese names of this soldier's family and friends with quotes and phrases.
These flags typically have additional phrases, and names written on them, but we have rarely seen a flag with THIS MUCH writing. It is almost completely covered with names, sayings, many radiating out from the "sun", all around the flag. The handwriting even shows some "script" style writing, and many different styles, so this was signed by a lot of different people. This would make an excellent, if challenging, translation project for someone who can read the pre-1945 Kanji.
The flag measures approximately 27" x33", and is made of sturdy light rayon type cloth, with the red "sun" dyed into the middle. Flag is in good condition and is the real deal: a genuine USGI "bring back"!
The flag itself has some stains and small holes, as well as overall age toning. The corner ties are present, and the corner reinforcements are not present. There are some stains from when the flag was folded up, which are in multiple places on the flag. There are smaller stains as well, giving it a lovely service worn look. This is definitely a flag that was "really there", and has the wear to prove it!
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 writings are mainly Japanese names of this soldier's family and friends with quotes and phrases.
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