Kanji inside top of friend's helmet

[BROBS]

A good friend of mine has this helmet, and I have offered to post the Kanji for translation here.

It's a very nice helmet.. and he would love to have any more history or info on it/the owner.

thanks in advance for your help and expertise!
-Brian

[GHP]

The name is Iwamoto ... but I'm not certain of the other kanji.

Name:
岩本
Iwamoto


====
Location or position [??]
高観
Kokan
"High Watch; anticipating a [price/stock] rise" -- I can't find this online as a stand-alone, but I did find

高観寺橋
Kokanjibashi [Kokan Temple Bridge]

Maybe it is the guard/watch location?
--Guy

[BROBS]

Kanji inside top of friend's helmet

Guy,
Thank you so much! That could make sense as there is a Kokan bridge in Usuki. This is a coastal town and certainly could be where a US GI might find a helmet to take.

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attra...u_Okinawa.html

I wonder if that's the place? Would be pretty amazing to narrow it down to this location!

-Brian

[imperialjapan]

Your link takes us to Oita Prefecture. I cannot see the name of the bridge in kanji, but I suspect they are not the same.

Sounds like a unit designation, maybe a unit that scouted or observed from a high vantage point.

[BROBS]

So there would be more than one bridge called 'Kokan Bridge'?

Can the Kanji be interpreted in another way?

Sorry for my ignorance on all things Japanese.
-Brian


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[GHP]

So there would be more than one bridge called 'Kokan Bridge'?

Can the Kanji be interpreted in another way?

Sorry for my ignorance on all things Japanese.
-Brian

Brian,

You can use many different kanji to come up with the sound "kokan" -- that is one thing that makes Japanese "fun." For example, one "kokan" could be 古館 meaning "old hall."

other "kokan" kanji:

股間
個艦
個感
股関
呼間

and there were over 36 examples.


--Guy

[BROBS]

So Kokan can have different meanings as well depending on the Kanji?

Boy I'm even more confused now.


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[BROBS]

so most likely a "High Watch" unit which may have been in a high vantage point or perhaps a watch at an important location?

could the man's name be Kokan Iwamoto?

[imperialjapan]

so most likely a "High Watch" unit which may have been in a high vantage point or perhaps a watch at an important location?

could the man's name be Kokan Iwamoto?

That could not be his name.

[imperialjapan]

so most likely a "High Watch" unit which may have been in a high vantage point or perhaps a watch at an important location?

could the man's name be Kokan Iwamoto?

BTW the family name is not Iwamoto 岩本. It is Kishimoto 岸本.

[Rod G]

I'm wondering if 'High Watch' might be the man's job within an anti-aircraft artillery unit?

Seems more likely to me that a function rather than a place would find its way into a helmet inscription.

Rod

[BROBS]

Rod,
That makes sense to me as well.

IJ: thanks for the corrected translation.

-Brian


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[GHP]

BTW the family name is not Iwamoto 岩本. It is Kishimoto 岸本.

Thanks Rich!

岸本
Kishimoto


--Guy

[GeorgeP]

I agree with Rod, looks more along the lines of an anti-aircraft observer/spotter helmet.


Tom

[BROBS]

I want to give a hearty thanks to all involved.

My friend is delighted to know more info on the helmet. It's always more interesting that way.

Best regards,
-Brian


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