Japanese Tunic Help Please

[douglas stuart]

Hello everybody. I would be very grateful for help on this tunic, which I brought very cheaply today. What is it exactly? Clearly its a pre-war Type 5 style tunic, the marks left by the shoulder insignia are clear. The markings are not military issue, and I understand are the name and address of the retailer. The tunic has studs at the collar and cuffs for fitting protective bands.

Is this a Zaigo reservists tunic, or would it have been used by a regular army officer? If Zaigo, does anybody know what kind of insignia was worn by these reservists? Many thanks for your help, Douglas

[J7W22007]

Hi,

Looks like a Showa Type 5 tunic.

This type of tunic was widely used in Formosa (now Taiwan)and Southern China due to hot temperature.

Used by both Officers and EM/NCOs

The insignia would be same as Type 1912 (Meiji 45).

For reference:

http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Japan...s/J001268.html

http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Japan...s/J000767.html

Can you post an up-close photo of the manufacturing tag?

Thanks,

Taka

[douglas stuart]

Thats great, thanks for your help.

[J7W22007]

Hi,

Thank you for posting the photo.

The writings are hard to tell.

Translation for the stamping:

鳥取 - Tottori Prefecture

筒井洋服店 - Tsutsui Cloths Shop

電話 七六◯番 - Phone No. 760

So this particular example was privately ordered. (May be from an Officer)

Best regards,

Taka

[douglas stuart]

Thank you very much for your help.

[Walter Schmidt]

This is an example of 在郷軍人 (Zaigougunnjinn) or veteran uniform, officer would have waist pockets.
Demobilized EMs would have to turn in their uniforms but they could make their own as demobilized veterans for veterans meetings and so on.

[douglas stuart]

Thanks very much for your response - my original question was to establish if this was a regular army tunic or a Zaigo Veterans tunic, and I have two replies, each saying the other. I strongly suspect it is in fact, a Zaigo tunic, but would appreciate other opinions and I also need to know what type of insignia to put on it.

I am very grateful for the help I have received so far.

[Walter Schmidt]

Also this type of tunic would have had the shoulder rank insignia, collar tabs for whatever branch the vet worked in (probably infantry) and whatever medals the guy would have had.

[douglas stuart]

Thank you, would the insignia be the same type as the regular army?

[Walter Schmidt]

Yes, you'd have the same type of collar tabs and shoulderboards, but they would be privately purchased instead of issued, so it could be different in construction.