Original Item: Only One Available. In 1868, after the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese shipping industry was released from its national isolationism policy and began to divert from conventional coastal navigation to ocean-going shipping. At this stage the Japanese economy was just starting to industrialize, much later than the great world powers. Because of lagging so far behind, machinery and equipment, as well as raw materials necessary for industrialization had to be imported. At the same time, the export of Japanese merchandise was imperative in order to obtain necessary foreign exchange. From the beginning, Japan was very dependent on foreign exchange.

One of the most flourishing times for the Japanese merchant marine throughout its history was a period of a few years during WWI. World War 1 provided the most significant opportunity growth. With the breakout of the war, the global shortage of ships brought about an extreme increase of freight in the shipping market and in the cost of shipbuilding. By 1930, the total of laid up vessels in Japan reached 250,000 gross tons.

Prior to WWII, the Japanese merchant marine fleet could claim 6.3 million gross tons or about 8 percent of the world’s tonnage, ranking third after Great Britain and the United States. During WWII, about 8 million gross tons were lost, including the vessels built during the war. When the war ended, there remained only about 1.3 million gross tons, 70 percent of which were poor war-standard ships and the balance of old and unseaworthy. In actuality, the Japanese merchant marine was completely debilitated and the shipping companies lost their accumulation of capital and facilities.

This forage cap is very similar in appearance to the regular Imperial Japanese Navy and Landing Forces. The forage cap is constructed of a dark blue wool with 2 grommeted vent holes on each side and the standard lace on the reverse. The interior is lined with a dark maroon rayon type material with a thin canvas sweat band. The front bears the insignia for the Merchant Marines which consists of gold bullion laurels surrounding a small Rising Sun flag which is bordered by gold bullion.

This is a wonderful example of a rare, seldom known forage cap from the Imperial Japanese Merchant Marines! Comes more than ready for further research and display.