What is this?

[Tony]

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know what this is or can translate what's inscribed?
This came with an assortment of Japanese items, so I'm not sure.
For good luck???

Thanks
Tony

[Tony]

Side

Left side.

[Tony]

Side

Right side.

[Jareth]

My guess, & I'm grasping at straws, is that it reminds me of Japanese prisioner of war artwork. If so it was done for some exchange (food, money etc.) with a G.I. guard. If Eric can translate a few sections we'll get a better idea.

[Eric Doody]

Tony,

The large kanji on the top of the banner translates to "Presented [or Given] To Corporal Tsuchimoto [Japanese surname?]" when read from right to left. A lot of the kanji looks like it was written by the same person (perhaps T. Ochai?). The "18.10.16" notation is for October 16, 1943. My reading skills are very limited (especially when the writing is not textbook perfect) so I wasn't able to translate as much of the writing as I was hoping to. However, the writing to the left of large kanji on top of the banner mentions a "mother-in-law," a "young women" or "daughter," the "Kanto Area Army," and "night watch." I have not had a chance to study the other writing on the banner as of yet. However, if I'm able to come up with anything else, I'll be sure to let you know. Insofar as what the banner is for, my guess is that it was given to Corporal Tsuchimoto as a memento by someone close to him.

Hope this helps.

Eric

[Tony]

Thanks

Eric,

Appreciate the time you spent on the translating what you could.
Maybe it's from someone close to him, and quite possibly from a family member.

Regards
Tony