Original Item: One-of-a-kind. Just purchased as part of a large Pacific War private collection. This hand painted silk flag is named to "Shimizu Yoshiharu", and is marked with multiple phrases with battle quotes such as "Go Forward" "Kill British and Americans", and "Good Luck", and is signed with the names of many friends and family. The flag measures approximately 36" x 27", and is made of silk cloth, with the red "sun" a separate dyed into the middle. Flag is in very good condition and is the real deal: a genuine USGI "bring back"! 

The flag itself has some small stains and holes, as well as overall age toning. Silk is a somewhat delicate material, so it has not held up as well as a linen or rayon flag would, however the silk is definitely more desirable. The writing is still quite legible, and this would make a fine display piece for a wall or glass table. The soft canvas corner reinforcements are in excellent shape, with their original hanging ties.

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.