Please, help with translation in tunic

[RodneyO]

Can't thank you enough if you find them.
Mahalo,
Rodney

Here's the side of the button:

R:J Button:s.jpg

[RodneyO]

Hi b-m-n animal, that's some nice early Japanese tunics and militaria. The hat without the visor looks like an early German pillbox hat. The problem with the early Japanese militaria is that they are full of bug/moth holes!! I've seen early hats like yours being sold on eBay (seller from Japan) an it's full of holes.
Here's some photos I took:
R:J War Tunic.jpg
R:J War Tunic-a.jpg

[RodneyO]

Belt support strap:
[ATTACH]1753637[/ATTACH]
Sleeve rank:
[ATTACH]1753638[/ATTACH]

[RodneyO]

Inside thread for medal loop: Can anyone make out what the red stamp is for?
[ATTACH]1753644[/ATTACH]
Medal loop (?)"
[ATTACH]1753643[/ATTACH]

[RodneyO]

Red stamp next to top block stamp:
[ATTACH]1753648[/ATTACH]
Block stamp below: Please, can anyone translate the kanji on the bottom block,
Thank You, Rodney
[ATTACH]1753647[/ATTACH]

[RodneyO]

Here's a nice replica Meiji Russo/Japan War tunic just for comparison. Does anyone own one of Nakata's replicas?
R:J War Replica tunic.jpg

[b-m-n_animal]

[QUOTE=RodneyO;4480138]Hi b-m-n animal, that's some nice early Japanese tunics and militaria. The hat without the visor looks like an early German pillbox hat. The problem with the early Japanese militaria is that they are full of bug/moth holes!! I've seen early hats like yours being sold on eBay (seller from Japan) an it's full of holes.
Here's some photos I took:



yes that problem comes from how it was stored (under floors and in lofts)but if you think that Japan was fire bombed it's surprising that any of this kit survived, I have a leather box frame pack as well but I haven’t managed to get any information to confirm it's date (or that it was military). I also have been collecting photographs etc as the Meiji kits like finding hen's teeth.

if you hunt around and can hang on they come up in better condition than two I know off on eBay. I was lucky that the cap I just got from e-bay was in reasonable condition and only listed in Europe. I’ve been lucky with my collection, I do have the trousers to go with the army tunic as well but can’t find the pic’s.

Your buttons are also different to mine, mine have a solid back rather than the hollow. I do know that the tunics were produced by different tailors at the time so it might just be a difference in stock.

do you have any other Meiji kit?

[RodneyO]

Other than the tunic, I only have a couple of sake cups and a 1904-05 Medal laying around somewhere... I mainly collect WW2 era but this Meiji tunic was to good to pass up. A good friend who owned an antique shop here (Honolulu) brought it in an called me, couldn't let something like this slip away, lucky!!!

[b-m-n_animal]

it's allways good to be in the right place at the right time. I mainly collect Meiji so all my later collections mothballed for now.

[MaresukeNogi]

Do you guys happen to have the dimensions for the peaked caps?