Help With Translation

[Nick Komiya]

If the letter belongs with the envelope, it was addressed to Okinawa and at least missing the first page (greetings missing). The letter photo is too small to read and the penmanship quite bad, but it's about family matters; Mother being lonely living alone, couldn't get to see granpa before he passed away, talk about Osaka, finding a job etc. Does not appear to have any military content.

[geopop71]

Translation

Thank's Nick, That is what I have been waiting for. More than enough just to get a glimpse of the content. I noticed the sail boat on the paper, a very tranquil and soothing picture for a soldier going through what they must have
been experiencing. Really appreciate you taking the time, also to the other guys who put their input into it. Incredible, worlds away and the people back home on all sides were having similar problems, except we were not having our homes and cities incinerated.
geopop

[geopop71]

translation

Here is the third page of the letter, somehow I didn't post it. Maybe this is the first page. Geopop

[Nick Komiya]

What you added is the first page. "Dear Mother, we were truly delighted to hear from you-------relieved to hear everbody back home is well-----it really pains me to think that we are leaving you all alone back home--------but considering our financial situation I just have to continue with this job in Osaka for another 4 or 5 years before we can go back home and work together with you -----" This sounds like the eldest son torn between making a living and caring for his mother in Okinawa. This person is not too well educated; lots of spelling mistakes.

[Edokko]

Nick, couldn't this letter be written by a woman "Chiyoko (千代子)" to her mother or mother-in-law ?
The contents are also very feminine.

[Edokko]

.

[Nick Komiya]

Eddoko
I am not 100% sure whether it's a woman or a man. The name looked like a woman's name at first glance, but the messy handwriting and the small photo couldn't give me confidence either way, which is why I did not refer to the gender in the first post. However, the first line after dear mother as far as I read the handwriting says "My wife also----", which made me conclude it was a man. But in a larger photo that can be properly read what looks like　妻 to me may be something else, too.

[Edokko]

Nick, yes that Kanji is used throughout the letter and indeed if it is 妻 (my wife) it makes sense as to the context. The Kanji actually looked like 妾 (mistress) but with all the errors in the other Kanjis on this letter, it may well be 妻　"my wife". I was totally thrown off by the Kanji for "mistress".
Geopop, can you check the rear side of the envelope and post a photo if there is a name written there.

[geopop71]

Translation

Thanks Nick and Edokko, comming right up.
geopop

[geopop71]

translate

Rear of envelope

[geopop71]

translate

rear envelope 2, wasn't sure which way it should be. Letter is only 3/8th wider and 3/4 longer than pic on post. Very thin tissue like paper.
geopop

[geopop71]

translate

I am assuming that this is not a letter to a soldier as I first thought?
Thank you geopop

[geopop71]

envelope

The envelope measures two and one half inches wide and five inches long. All three pages were folded up and just fit inside. Opened at the end.
geo

[Edokko]

Geo, the letters definitely came originally in that envelope since the writer has the same signature on the letter and the envelope back. It sure looks like 千代子ヨリ (from Chiyoko), but what do you think Nick ?

[Nick Komiya]

It's hard to deny that it looks like Chiyoko, but then I have a problem reconciling this with the reference to "wife" or "mistress" in the letter. However, as we already know the gist of the letter, it doesn't matter too much either way, I suppose.