Original Item: Only One Available. Just purchased from a large military auction! We received this wonderful "Good Luck" flag along with pretty much complete translations of the phrases and 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. Definitely an interesting example!

As with many good luck flags, the right side is marked bottom to top with the Japanese phrase 久 長 運 武 祈, which reads Bu un Chou kyu Inoru ("A prayer that your military fortunes be long lasting.") To the right of this are Kanji that read "Himure Shrine", (日牟禮八幡宮 or Himure Hachiman-gū) which are written in semi-cursive gyōsho (行書) or sōsho (草書 - cursive). For this reason the kanji look quite a bit different than the standard computer style.

On the left side of the flag is the phrase 國 威 宣 掲, which translates to "National Proclamation", which is interpreted as "To fulfill and promote the policies of the nation", in this case Japan. In the center of the flag, above the "Sun", are stamps from at least four different shrines, some of which are even in Buddhist Sanskrit, with many of the others in "seal script", a very old style of writing long obsolete among the public. These are translated on the included documents.

The flag measures approximately 29” x 34”, and 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"!

The writing is still mostly legible, and this would make a fine display piece for a wall or glass table along with the included translation and shine information pages. The flag still has the original corner ties fully intact, along with beige faux leather corner reinforcements.

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.