Flag emblem and tracing flag/names

[roguetech]

The penmanship leads me to believe school-aged children/youth made the flag. Additionally, the names of the gifters are:

--Guy

Guy, if I can be so bold as to further impose, would you be willing to type out the full text in kanji? When I have the banner framed, I will include a placard with the English translation, and if you're willing, the text in Japanese.

[Nick Komiya]

If you are that confused, please reread my post 11 and Guy's in which he confessed of Vic Morrow having driven him to become a German child soldier himself. What's wrong with arabic numerals that Japan has been using since long before WW2? No one went to war with this flag, only in imagination as we all at one time or another have. I used to have a 6 shooter and Chief's headdress, too but I woke up before getting a squaw.

[GHP]

... I used to have a 6 shooter and Chief's headdress, too but I woke up before getting a squaw.

Still have mine.



--Guy

[roguetech]

If you are that confused, please reread my post 11 and Guy's in which he confessed of Vic Morrow having driven him to become a German child soldier himself. What's wrong with arabic numerals that Japan has been using since long before WW2? No one went to war with this flag, only in imagination as we all at one time or another have. I used to have a 6 shooter and Chief's headdress, too but I woke up before getting a squaw.

It seems likely someone did go to war with this flag, since my grandfather (so far as anyone knows) never served in any overseas land base aside from Guam. He may have gotten it third-hand, especially since the dates would be wrong for Guam. Were Japanese children in Guam? If not, it seems to me more plausible that a soldier had their children's or sibling's toy as a memento. But I only have a vague knowledge of Japanese culture, or the conditions that might have placed it with my grandfather (hence me asking).

The arabic numerials strikes me as an odd touch for children, but I have no clue as to the frequency WWII-era Japanese civilians may have used them.

I'm not really questioning your conclusion, but it raises even bigger questions. How did my grandfather get such a toy? How unique of an item is this? Who were these children and did they have more personal motives than "playing war"? Who was Ogawa…? Was he imaginary, one of the children to make the flag, another child, or a soldier? I appreciate these are very likely unanswerable, especially on an internet forum, but I definitely would like answers.

[GHP]

Key:

1. 祝 入隊 Shuku Nyūtai Celebrating [Your] Enlistment!
2. 小川 一三君 Ogawa Kazumi-kun [Mr. Ogawa, Kazumi --boy]
3. 大井 初子 Ōi Hatsuko [girl]
4. 川上 三技子 Kawakami Michiko [girl]
5. 村田 由子 Murata Yūko [girl]
6. 三浦守子 Miura Moriko [girl]
7. 石山和江 Ishiyama Kazue [girl]
8. 忠 義 Chūgi -- Loylaty
9. 孝行 - Kōkō -- Filial Piety
10. 祈武運長久 Ki Buun Chōkyū Wishes/Prayers for Everlasting Fortune in War
11. Poem:
君のため - For my lover (could mean parents, emperor, etc.)
何か惜まん - I will spare nothing
若櫻 - young cherry blossom (i.e. young soldier)
散って甲斐ある - is worth dying
命なりせば - my life has been so destined.
12. 昭和二十年五月三日記 Shōwa ni jū-nen gogatsu Mikka-ki 1945, May 3rd recorded.

There! That'll be one cup of coffee next time we meet.

--Guy

[Staldion]

Hello everyone,

What an attractive item and lovely storys about you too guys, I also used to play a lot when I was kid with a french looking like US helmet who saw service in Indochina (whithout ruined it let be clear about it). Too bad I'm not born in the sixties I would have play with the real deal! I guess every kid on earth are the same at any time.

My humble opinion is that the item came from another island than guam, maybe in Okinawa or even mainland Japan, was confused at that time with an "original" navy artefact by a soldier (not saying it's not, just not from a soldier but it's far more complicated than any Tojo flag for example). It may have came to the hands of your grandfather with the returning allied soldier, I don't know if the boys were passing by Guam when going back home. Maybe an Australian? Someone more educated than me on this matter would be able to confirm or not. Whithout knowledge about japanese flags the guy would have told your grandfather it was a japanese navy flag whithout being a liar. Like he was in the Navy himself that's maybe why he was interested in it at some time and made that deal.

Decades after with the probably shortened story passing by in your family that would explain why you don't know much about it and probably why you are confuse and overwhelming by more questions than at the begining of your quest.

But don't worry this is a neat period item and a really unique one. At least this is the first time I see something like this in my relative short experience of japanese militaria. You should keep it and take care of it because it's a truly neat time capsule of a total war.

P.S: Guy, your colt make me jealous! Love this white cross of malta and the heraldic figure on the holster, I am a huge fan of heraldic, badass!

Cheers,
Mathieu.

[GHP]

...
P.S: Guy, your colt make me jealous! Love this white cross of malta and the heraldic figure on the holster, I am a huge fan of heraldic, badass!

Thank you, Mathieu. My Colt is a joy to shoot. It is chambered in .357 Magnum, so I can also shoot .38 special (cheaper) as well. I do a bit of leather work as a hobby and finally decided to make this concealed-carry holster. The rosary is entirely made of ivory. I carved the cross and the center, but purchased the ivory beads (though I did have to enlarge each hole.

Cheers!
--Guy

[roguetech]

Decades after with the probably shortened story passing by in your family that would explain why you don't know much about it and probably why you are confuse and overwhelming by more questions than at the begining of your quest.

But don't worry this is a neat period item and a really unique one. At least this is the first time I see something like this in my relative short experience of japanese militaria. You should keep it and take care of it because it's a truly neat time capsule of a total war.

Cheers,
Mathieu.

I agree this seems, the most likely, but the story hasn't just shortened, but disappeared. My mother literally did not know it existed. We do know most of his time was on Guam, and so far as anyone knows, the last of his tour. Honestly, my guess is he traded for it, knowing at least a little about it. Another soldier may have preferred your "typical" war "trophy", but I'd like to think he would have appreciated something less… glorious. He hated the war and everything about it.

I'm really pleased with EVERYONE's help on it. Its not just a unique priece of world history, but a piece saved by a unique man. I know he would be glad it's been saved and can be appreciated as a legacy of a great culture, rather than as a legacy of a brutal war.

[roguetech]

Key:

[… ]

There! That'll be one cup of coffee next time we meet.

--Guy

Special thanks!! I will be sure to post a photo of the framed end-product, though it might be a few weeks before I can afford to do it justice.

[roguetech]

Horrible photograph, but my thanks again to everyone for help, especially GHP.

[roguetech]

Second link attempt:

[GHP]

That is a real nice display!

--Guy