Help With Japanese Uniforms Please

[FloridaLancer]

Hey guys,

I'm looking to buy a Japanese tunic or two, but have no knowledge on them whatsoever. Is there any good reference material to distinguish the types? I just want a couple of nice combat examples. Any information is greatly appreciated.

[J7W22007]

Hi,

Here are a good site for reference:

Imperial Japanese Army (IJA)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform..._Japanese_Army

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_ra...g_World_War_II

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=665169

Imperial Japanese Navy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_r...g_World_War_II

Online purchase:

http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Japan...Japanese2.html

Hope they help.

Best regards,
Taka

[douglas stuart]

There are many types of Japanese tunic available, some of them are not expensive. You need to consider if you want tropical uniforms (worn in Burma, Phillipines etc.), or non tropical types (worn in China, Japan, etc.). The tropical uniforms are in cotton and are distinguished by having open slit vents at the sides of the tunic. Non tropical uniforms are cotton (summer use) or wool for winter use. Tunics made during the war have the rank insignia on the collar, pre-war tunics have the rank insignia on the shoulders.

I can recommend Mike Hewitts book 'Uniforms and Equipment of the Imperial Japanese Army in WW2' though it does not include officers uniforms. I hope thats of some help.

[Jareth]

I think Mike Hewitt's book is excellent for army tunics. My short advice is 1) do a forum search first 2) understand that 90% or more army tunics are mint, unissued tunics that are still commonly found in Japan today 3) most army tunic have collar tabs added post war. Extremely difficult to find a WW2 period army tunic that is named on interior (hand written, ink kanji) & that has period applied insignia

[FloridaLancer]

I think Mike Hewitt's book is excellent for army tunics. My short advice is 1) do a forum search first 2) understand that 90% or more army tunics are mint, unissued tunics that are still commonly found in Japan today 3) most army tunic have collar tabs added post war. Extremely difficult to find a WW2 period army tunic that is named on interior (hand written, ink kanji) & that has period applied insignia

I've noticed this. Mint tunics everywhere. What is the reason for this? Was there a large surplus of unissued uniforms at the end of the war? I would like to pick up a few tunics typically encountered by the american forces in the pacific.

[Walter Schmidt]

Right after the war the government made all military assets surplus as a non-inflationary way to increase the budget. They had people carrying cartloads of blankets with zero food in their stomachs.

I'm going to the US soon (in japan right now) and if you have anything in particular you want, I can pick them up for you before I go over there.

Once my exams are up (over at the end of next week) I can go to the markets again, if I remember a guy had a used summer Type 98 (non tropical) with original insignia for an okay price.