Unknown badge, please help

[Carl Spackler]

I picked this badge up at an antique mall yesterday for $5.00. I have no idea if it's WWII period. I thought maybe it is because the star is similar to what is seen on helmets.

[Carl Spackler]

Another photo...

[Ryukyutunnelrat]

You have a very common WWII Japanese Veterans (reservist) Association Badge. Below is a link for more information about the badge.

http://imperialjapanmedalsandbadges....istbadges.html

David.

[Papa Nambu]

It's a badge for the Zaigo Gunjin-kai a group for reserve military soldiers and sailors, which is why it has both the army star and navy anchor. The group was abolished after the war, so the badge would be pre 45, but it could also be much older. These are fairly common, but you still got a good deal for $5.

[GeorgeP]

I agree, common but still a good deal.



Tom

[Carl Spackler]

The tag was marked "Chinese badge". Obviously the seller wasn't aware what it was either. What do these badges usually sell for?

[mcmike]

Check eBay, but I think $10 to $15 is pretty typical.

[Papa Nambu]

This is one of the rare cases of a military collectable that has gone down in value.

Back when I first started collecting in the days before everyone had the internet, these used to sell for a lot more (in the USA) because only a few were brought back as war souvenirs, captured from the few reservists who may have bothered bringing the badge along when they were recalled, or picked up during the occupation.

However, there are piles of these in Japan. Just about every able bodied male had to report for military service, and after their active duty they were eligible (and strongly encouraged) to join. I think even some men who had passed the medical exam for service without going into active duty were allowed to join since the could be called up, making them part of the reserves also. That's a lot of men, over several decades, and probably many of them owned more than one badge (there are some other variations). So you can imagine how many of those badges are out there. Any way, once all these badges in Japan started showing up for sale internationally thanks to the internet, their value in the USA dropped considerably.


Emblem on a monument in Akihabara, Tokyo.


A more formal badge with ribbon


Zaigo Gunjin-kai badge and an Ai Koku Fujin-kai “Women’s Patriotic Association” badge, also very common.