Unknown Japanese Armband

[Bill D.]

Painted cotton armband. I cannot seem to find it in any reference source.
Any help would be much appreciated!

[Nick Komiya]

You don't find any information on it as it is a crudely hand made one-off item someone (probably a girl ) made for a youth going to war. It says vertically "soldier going to war" and underneath the meatball are the characters for wing and eagle. Whether that is supposed to suggest that he is becoming a pilot or just his first name (as a name it is read Yoku) is unclear. The emblem on the back I would imagine is something like his school emblem, but otherwise no clue. This is close in nature to the mascot dolls girls made for pilots, etc. Whether it is an original wartime item or a fantasy item is impossible to tell, just as in the case of a field-made German cammo cap.

[Bill D.]

Thanks, Nick !

I appreciate your help very much!