WWII Silk Japanese Flag Lots of Kanji (Opinions?)

[Devincu]

I purchased this flag from today from a guy that said his grandfather was a in the 2nd Marine Division. I know very little about these flags but it seems to be made of silk and has a lot of Kanji all over it. Thoughts???

Thanks
Devin

[Devincu]

more photos

[Papa Nambu]

Picture is upside down, but looks legit.

[Devincu]

Picture is upside down, but looks legit.

Picture is right side up...flag must be upside down sorry Told you I dont know much about Japanese stuff. Thanks for the reply!

Devin

[Devincu]

Here's a better photo...right side up. Thank you for letting me know.

[Papa Nambu]

Owner's name is 丸山雪夫 Maruyama Yukio, it's on the far right in the large kanji.
There are some slogans like the common "Prayers for eternal good fortune in battle" (written above Maryama's name) "seven lives for the nation" (used that one twice) etc and lots of signatures.

[GHP]

Seven Lives To Repay the Country

.... "seven lives for the nation" (used that one twice) ...

七生報国
Shichisei Hôkoku

Yah.... Yukio Mishima made that (in)famous in 1970:


He wrote so much about seppuku, yet when he tried it at Jieitai HQ, he made a very small cut, and his "second" [kaishaku-nin] was unable to sever the head after 3 attempts. After the failed attempts, a third member of Mishima's group severed Mishima's head with one blow, then he severed the "second's" head with a single blow. My fencing teacher (former IJA swordsmanship instructor) said the third participant had experience with test-cutting. Mishima's sword once belonged to my teacher.

graphic warning:
Mishima's head with stained hachimaki.
both heads lower left corner.

--Guy

[VOODOTHATIDO4U]

Very nice Flag! It's also nice when someone translates what they say and mean. It was a Important item to the person and their friends and family.