Japanese Good Luck Flag with Cherry Tree/Blossom Art

May 20, 2021

This Japanese good luck flag is unique in that it has a beautiful cherry tree branch and cherry blossoms on it. In addition, it has a rather rare-ish shrine seal on it. The town where the shrine was located was incorporated into a couple of other towns and there was a name change. I am fairly sure that the old shrine no longer exists. This is how I would describe this flag:

This difficult to find, silk Japanese Good Luck Signed Flag has been painted with a wonderful design of a cherry blossom tree branch and blossoms. The flag measures approximately 27.5" high X 34." wide. The bright red center orb is set against the deep cream background, that has darkened with age. Gold foil corner tabs are firmly sewn in place, with some silver metal underlay shining through; silk tie strings are present on each tab. Stitching has been added for strength along the fly and hoist side edges of the flag. Near the twelve o'clock position are two nice, bright red shrine seals. The largest one measures nearly 2." square, while the long narrow one to the right measures approximately 2." long X 0.5" wide.

Across the upper edge of the flag are the four large kanji characters for slogan Buun Chokyu or "May Your Military Fortunes Be Long Lasting". The flag was "Presented to: Mr. Shima Takuto". The shrine seal is a bit obscured but appears to say "Seal of Kogawaso Shrine". Kogawaso was an old shrine, located at one time in Wakayama prefecture.

Of course, what places this flag on the rarer side is the beautiful art that runs along half of the hoist side. The cherry tree branch, and its sakura blossoms, are an impressive 16." in height. During the war, the emperor's soldiers, sailors and airmen were especially likened to the cherry blossoms, that fall from the tree at their height of their beauty. Every person was expected to offer his or her life freely toward the success of the national cause.

There is what appears to be a small shrapnel-type of hole and a number of small stains that spill slightly onto the art of this lightly "salty" flag. Additional stains may be seen at the 6 and 8 o'clock positions.