Japanese hook, is this IJA?

[RodneyO]

Hi All!
Once again I need your help!! I bought this hook (sometime ago) and was told it was used by the IJA. Don't know nothing else about it, any help will be appreciated. Kanji on the bottom of the handle, top kanji is "To", can't find the one below it.

Thank you,
Rodney
Japanese Hook.jpg

Japanese Hook:markings.jpg

[zachb]

I don't think this is a tool used by the IJA. I think it might be Japanese fire fighting equipment / Fireman's tool.

[Papa Nambu]

It looks like a tobiguchi, which was used by Japanese firefighters to pull down burning walls etc.
The kanji are 東洋 East and Sea, but it's probably an abbreviation for a district name.

Another possibility is a fishing tool used to haul in large fish like tuna. Not likely military either way, but could have been used by the military just like our military today has the same sort of tools you may have in your tool box at home.

[Papa Nambu]

I'm leaning more towards the fishing hook idea now because the shape does not look like a normal tobiguchi, plus those kanji are likely to appear as part of the name of some fishing enterprise.

[Nick Komiya]

Indeed that's a fish market tool, called Tekagi (hand hook) and the Kanji indicates post 1956 vintage, as the name Toyo stands for Toyo Suisan (Toyo Fisheries) now more known for its instant noodles.

[RodneyO]

Hi All,
Thanks for the help!! Very VERY! disappointed !!......again, never buy the story!!!!
Zach, when you mentioned that it could be a firefighter's hook, it reminded me about the samurai TV series "Abarenbo Shogun" with Ken Matsudaira and his firefighter friends who was always seen carrying one of these ( I was hoping it was ).
Papa Nambu, thanks for posting the picture, it looked similar to the one you in the picture, just the hook part a little different.
Nick, you and Papa Nambu had the same conclusion, fisherman's hook. Sad but will display it as such and not with my Japanese militaria!!. ...Never buy the story!!!!!

Thanks,
Rodney