Japanese Flag

[Del Panfini]

Could I please have your opinion on this Japanese flag & possibly some translations. Any help would be appreciated.


Thanks,
Del

[Del Panfini]

Japanese Flag

last pic

[chen]

The English translation has been done side by side vs. Kanji writing.
The only one I do not know what it means is circled by black.

[Del Panfini]

Japanese Flag

Chen,


thanks for your reply. Do you feel it is an original & not something made by the Seabees?


Thanks again,
Del

[chen]

Absolutely no idea!

[GHP]

調布 Chōfu is a city within the Tokyo Metropolitan Area; it is very close to the now-closed Tachikawa Field (was used by the US after the war), and about a 30 minute train ride to Yokota Airbase.

This looks like an occupation souvenir flag. It is NOT a "yosegaki flag" signed by well-wishers and given to a soldier.

--Guy

[GHP]

The kanji and katakana were done by a Japanese. It was a souvenir for Davy B. Michael (as written in English); however, the katakana of the name reverses the name in the Japanese fashion: Last Name, Given Name.

ミチアヱル・ビヰー・デヱービー
Michyawiru Bwi-i Dwe-e-bi-i
Davy B. Michael

[the English name looks like it was done by the Japanese. So I'm wondering why the name-order reversal!]

The katakana includes the now obsolete pre-1945 ヰ (wi) and ヱ (weh). All "lower-case" katakana make the preceeding kana's sound morph; so instead of チ "chi", チア is "chi-a" (written in romaji as chya).

The ー "bo" [staff/stick] elongates the preceding sound. So, where ビ makes the bi [as in because] sound, ビー makes a bii sound [as in bumble-bee]

Just for fun, the modern kana would be:

マイケル・ビー ・デヴィ
Maikeru Bii Debui
Michael B. Davy

Now, an over-and-under comparison of old and new:
ミチアヱル・ビヰー・デヱービー
マイケル・ビー ・デヴィ

Cheers,
--Guy

[Del Panfini]

Japanese Flag

Thanks for your replies.


Del

[chils123]

I won't lie, I've had my eyes on this one too. Haha!

What's the opinion on the value of US signed flags like this? I've been in the market for one, but don't come across them locally too often.