Shoulder boards

[Laurens Q-fin]

Hi,

Can someone please help me identifying these parade shoulder boards? I believe they are army because of the green backing. Secondly, they have a button with cherry blossom design so I believe they are from Showa period. I do not know the rank they represent.

Cheers,
Laurens

[Laurens Q-fin]

front

[Laurens Q-fin]

reverse

[Eric Doody]

Laurens,

The pair of shoulder boards are for an Army warrant officer and were used for service dress.

Hope this helps.

Eric<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

[Laurens Q-fin]

Thank you Eric! Is it correct they date from Showa period or was this type used earlier? I have also seen similar pieces with a plain button on the front.

Cheers,
Laurens

[Eric Doody]

Laurens,

Excellent question!

According to Imperial Japanese Army and Navy Uniforms & Equipment by Tadao Nakata, the subject service dress shoulder boards are referred to as being "reformed" in the 13th year of Showa (i.e., 1938). (Refer to page 75 and plate 182 for additional information.) So, I guess the answer to your questions would be yes! The subject shoulder boards would be considered from the Showa period.

As for the other type of shoulder boards that you have seen with the plain brass buttons, I am of the opinion that these would be full (as opposed to service) dress shoulder boards.

Hope this helps.

Eric
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[Eric Doody]

Laurens,

Just a quick follow-up on the service dress shoulder boards...it was brought to my attention that the subject shoulder boards could also be a set of replacement company grade officer shoulder boards in which the star(s) were never added to the boards.

According to Japanese Military Uniforms 1930 - 1945 by Ritta Nakanishi, warrant officer shoulder boards appear to be the same width as company grade officer shoulder boards. Thus, the pair of service dress shoulder boards pictured in this thread could also be a replacement set of company grade officer shoulder boards that never had the star(s) added to the boards.

Hope this helps and thank you Malcolm for bringing this to my attention.

Eric

[Laurens Q-fin]

Thank you Eric and Malcolm for writing this addendum.
Next to the 'bible' of Japanese militaria written by T.Nakata, I really like to find the book by R.Nakanishi as well. So far, no success

Cheers,
Laurens