Assistance on bag & cleaning kit

[jayhawkhenry]

Hello to all,

I wanted to post a couple of items I have had for years to get your opinions. The fist is a bag that I need help translating. I will post two photos, in one I marked all the stitches in black to make it easer to read. The kanji is stitched into the bag with the same color military thread.

[jayhawkhenry]

bag photo

2

[jayhawkhenry]

Cleaning Kit

I wanted to ask if anyone would give me an estimated value on the cleaning kit. Does anyone know if all the parts are present? It has a rubberized canvas strap holding the buckle. Unfortunately the strap on the top is torn off. It came with an un-ground Type 38 and bayonet. The bayonet frog is also rubberized canvas.

[jayhawkhenry]

This is just for fun because I like the Sake cup.

[Banzi64]

I think there are about 3 more straight rods that go with it they seem to bring about 300 for a complete set

[Jareth]

yes unfortunately you are missing the special cleaning rod sections.

[jayhawkhenry]

Thanks for the assistance I have been collecting TR & US items for 30 years and these items have been sitting in a drawer. I just picked up a nice Type 99, very late war that has sparked my interest again.
Was the 3 piece cleaning rod used in addition to or in lieu of or in addition to the cleaning rod with the weapon? Do you have a example you can post a photo of?

[jayhawkhenry]

Help on Knaji

Does anyone have any ideas on the kanji?? I know the first line has the numbers 8,9,2,5 but what is the first symbol? It looks like swamp?

[Edokko]

Yep, the first line on the right reads "Numa-8925" and is a designation for a unit, Numa being the first character out of the name of the unit leader. Can't say what the middle line is, but the third line on the left is the owners name Ito Zensuke

[jayhawkhenry]

Edokko,

I can not thank you enough. Isn't the last symbol in the center, "day or sun"? I will keep digging to see if I can discover the unit. I think knowing the identity of owner is important to keep his memory alive. Again, Thank you.

Regards,
Henry

[Edokko]

Henry, you're quite welcome. I have been trying to dig up some info on the Numa-8925 unit also, but they have been pretty elusive. So far what I can gather is that they seem to have been a part of the 229nd Regiment coming out of Gifu Prefecture in mainland Japan, the 229nd was formed and received their regimental flag on Sept.13, 1939 and by the end of war was in Rabaul. The 229th operated under the 38th division and saw action in places like Hong Kong fortress, Balembang raid, Guadal Canal and Bougenville previous to ending up in Rabaul and New Georgia. Not sure how much of that action the Numa-8925 unit was involved in, but a pretty good chance that the bag came from either of the above locations, but most likely from Rabaul or New Georgia where the last big combat and surrender happened.