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". These flags typically have additional phrases, and names written on them, but we have rarely seen a flag with this many. It is almost completely covered with names, sayings, many radiating out from the "sun", all around the flag. This would make an excellent, if challenging, translation project for someone who can read the pre-1945 Kanji.

The flag measures approximately 27" x 38", and looks to be made from fine silk cloth, with the red "sun" dyed into the middle. Flag is in excellent condition and is the real deal: a genuine USGI "bring back"!

The flag itself has a bit of light staining in some areas, but is still mostly white with a very vibrant red sun in the center. It is a bit wrinkled from decades of storage, but if displayed these should quickly disappear. The writing is still quite legible, and this would make a fine display piece for a wall or glass table. The corner reinforcements are present, with hanging ties still present. This is a quite nice example, with vibrant colors. Ready to display!

The Good Luck Flag, known ashinomaru 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.