Original World War Two Imperial Japanese Army Yosegaki Hinomaru “Good Luck” Flag featuring a Japanese Type 90 Helmet depiction and a beheaded Chinese soldier with a katana.
The traditional yosegaki hinomaru was given to men before their induction into the Japanese armed forces or deployment. Friends, family, and colleagues wrote their names, messages, and encouraging words on the flag in a ray-like pattern emanating from the sun. Additional text or drawings were occasionally added, and in rare cases, intricate and impressive art adorned the flag. The writing on the flag was traditionally done using a calligraphy brush and ink. It was customary to only sign around the red center, though some items may have additional characters written on the center in red.
The origin of the tradition of flag inscriptions is disputed, with discussion over when it originated. Although some suggest that signed flags were added to a soldier's belongings during the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), along with a "thousand stitch belt" (senninbari), good luck flags prior to the Manchurian Incident (1931) are uncommon. It is generally accepted that most Hinomaru Yosegaki seen today are from the time just before or during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945).
The yosegaki hinomaru was a symbol of communal hope and prayer for military personnel stationed far from home. It was thought that this flag, bearing signatures and slogans, would provide a powerful force to guide and support the soldiers through difficult times. This reminder of duty also acknowledged the sacrifices made by those who went to war, with the understanding that they may not return home. In some cases, departing servicemen would even leave behind clippings of their hair and nails for their loved ones to hold onto in the event of a funeral.
The concept of self-sacrifice held great significance in Japanese society during WWII, shaping much of the wartime mentality. It was widely believed that families of fallen soldiers, sailors, and aviators brought honor upon themselves by dutifully serving the country and Emperor, and that any soldier had a duty to willingly offer their life. This perspective stemmed from the traditional samurai code of bushido, which had been ingrained in Japanese culture for centuries and was particularly instilled in twentieth century soldiers, many of whom were not from samurai backgrounds.
Fully translated by renowned Japanese historian Dan King. This particular example has been signed by fellow students of an industrial trade school in Osaka. Some of the signers included the names of their hometowns. The expressions (and lack of certain expressions) leads me to believe this is from the 1937-1940 time frame.
- To Mr. Shigeru Wada, celebrating you going off to war. May you have eternal good fortune
- (Signed) Tatsu Natsume, The principal of the Osaka Machine Works Industrial Trade School
- (signed) Munetsugi Matsuo, Member of the 24th Graduating Class of the Kaiso Middle School (in Wakayama Prefecture)
- (signed) Masao Kaneya from Hokkaido
- Spirit (soul)
- "Chink" (this is a sketch of a Chinese person getting their head cut off with the sword.
Note the "stump" of the neck, the blood, and the tears. The derogative word "Chankoro" (Chink) is written to explain that the figure with the strange hairstyle is Chinese.
- Kazumasa Itoh, from Kyushu
- Toshi Shibamoto from Wakayama Prefecture
- Bravery
- I'm Endo-chan your handsome buddy from Tanba (a place in Osaka) Note: Add the suffix "chan" instead of "san" to a name suggests familiarity, a closeness.
- Prayers for Mr. Wada to have the warrior's good fortune. It's me San-chan
- Great Japan
