Original Item: Only One Available. This is a wonderful "Good Luck" flag with some lovely temple stamps on it, something we almost never see! It looks like this flag was brought to several different shrines, and unlike many we see, does not look to have had any additional signatures added to it after this. The flag comes with a sheet translating some of the inscriptions, as well as one of the shrines! Definitely an interesting example!

The phrase in the top center above the sun is a Buddhist mantra roughly translating to There is no end to disputes (war). Still, if you forget to live as a bodhisattva (buddha), your heart will be ugly, and you will retreat from the people. Signed by Taiki Kiun (the two stamps are the signer’s first and last name). The inscription below the sun translates to Congratulations on enlisting in the Army. February 6, 1945.

To the top right of the flag next to the leather reinforcement reads Prayers that you completely destroy the enemy. Eternal good fortune in battle. Signed by Mr. Gen Ryuzan, a priest of the Iseyama Kotaijingu Shrine in Yokohama, Japan. This link provides some photos and information (in Japanese) about the shrine.

The flag is in great shape and measures 28 x 37”. It retains both of its original leather corner reinforcements with the tie-strings still intact. It is made of what looks to be rayon or a rayon cotton blend, with a red "sun" dyed into the middle. Overall the flag is in excellent condition and is the real deal: a genuine US GI "bring back"!

A great example with an identified shrine inscription, ready for further research and 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.