Capture Of Corregidor Wall Hanger / Fan

[vintageproductions]

Here is one of the coolest patriotic / wall hangers I have ever owned ( at least in my mind).

 

This is a large wall fan celebrating the Japanese taking Corregidor & the Philippines from the US & Filippinos.

 

Bought this many years ago from Tarbridge and it still hangs on the wall in my office.

 

[Eric Queen]

That is awesome Bob. Have never seen another one.

[Dirk]

Bob a great and unique item! I am wondering since the island fell in May, if the fan was celebrating the fall of Luzon, and saying our next onslaught is now coming against Corregidor which is next in Japan's sights?

[tiger41]

Nice piece.....Would look great with one or both of the Filipino "coins" stamps by the Japanese for the fall of the Philippines.

[gwb123]

Interesting item, but here is my question...

 

Is this a wartime piece to "celebrate" the taking of Corregidor? Or is it a post war, GI souvenir piece to memorialize the event?

 

It's odd that it is labeled in English and apparently without a word of Japanese on it.

 

The choice of the word "onslaught" is curious as well. It sounds like a word that would be used by someone who bore the brunt of the attack rather than the victor. If this was made for the Japanese, you'd expect a phrase like "Glorious Victory" or something like that.

 

I'm not sure that in wartime Japan the display of the US and Philippine flags would have been approved.

 

And finally, what looks to be an upturned rifle with a US helmet on it that looks to be in the center is more of a Western symbol than anything I've seen from Japan. I doubt they would have wasted a rifle to mark a grave given their traditions.

 

So just some thoughts wondering what we are looking at. As said, neat item either way.

[vintageproductions]

Gil- The average Filippino that would have sold this to the Japanese troops, spoke English and wrote English, not Japanese.

 

Lots of businesses and products in Japan, before the war were advertised in English so that it could crossover into the Western markets.

 

It wasn't until the war started that it went to Kanji instead of Western lettering.

 

So most Japanese soldiers could read and understand a little English.

 

The fact on the fan that the soldiers and Rising Sun flag is at the top and the US and Philippine flag are in lower corners would go hand in hand with how the Japanese looked down upon other nationalities.

[gwb123]

All true. My next question was whether it was made in the Philippines or Japan itself? If it was made in the Philippines, it would explain a lot as you have pointed out.

 

As noted, a unique item not seen elsewhere.

[vintageproductions]

It is for sure Philippine made.

[gwb123]

That makes it all the more interesting then.