Kanji translation

[Harvey R Lipp]

I would appreciate a translation of the kanji in the photo

[GHP]

Two Surnames

Two surnames:

大ノ井
Ōnoi
(Possibly 大野井 meaning Large-Field Well)

and

山田
Yamada


--Guy

[GeorgeP]

Another way to look at the top three characters is unit designation. It might be:
Battalion followed by the first character of the company commander's name. For example:
Battalion's I(noue) (unit). Imo, not a ton to go on for a definitive answer, unfortunately.

Tom

[GHP]

Another way to look at the top three characters is unit designation. It might be:
Battalion followed by the first character of the company commander's name. For example:
Battalion's I(noue) (unit). Imo, not a ton to go on for a definitive answer, unfortunately.

Tom

Hi Tom,

Interesting ... I see what you mean, I think. Kinda like the following?
大隊ノ井[上] 山田
"Daitai no I(noue) Yamada"
[Yamada in "I(noue)'s Battalion]

--Guy

[Sengoku]

As I understand it from those more knowledgeable than me, a lot of Japanese language and writing depends on context! What is the item in the photo'.

[GeorgeP]

Hi Tom,

Interesting ... I see what you mean, I think. Kinda like the following?
大隊ノ井[上] 山田
"Daitai no I(noue) Yamada"
[Yamada in "I(noue)'s Battalion]

--Guy

More or less, yes. Looking at it as Battalion's Inoue. Might be stretching, but I see "Inoue" (name as a possibility) as being the commander of the company within the battalion, and Yamada a member of that sub-unit, if you put it into a superior unit/sub unit context of battalion to company. Unfortunately too many missing kanji, but then again, they weren't marking these up with future collectors in mind!

Tom

[Harvey R Lipp]

Kanji translation

Thanks for all the information. Not sure I understand but that is normal.

[Harvey R Lipp]

Kanji translation

This is on the strap of a Japanese T-14 shoulder holster.

[Rod G]

How about:

大尉 Taii (Captain) of Well Drilling Yamada

...?

[imperialjapan]

Another way to look at the top three characters is unit designation. It might be:
Battalion followed by the first character of the company commander's name. For example:
Battalion's I(noue) (unit). Imo, not a ton to go on for a definitive answer, unfortunately.

Tom

It seems clear that 'Yamada' is the name and the other 3 kanji are something else (that is, not a name). Tom, your idea seems plausible, but, as you state, there is not info enough to make any definitive suggestions.

(We shouldn't decide upon Inoue as the default name, though, as the OP may understand that to mean we all think that is the name. So many Japanese family names begin with 井.)