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Historic Japanese Good Luck Flag


Fortunes Of War
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Fortunes Of War

This silk Imperial Japanese Good Luck Signed Flag measures approximately 27.75" high X 38.25" wide. The bright red center orb was silk screened onto the white background.  The field  of the flag has age toned to a warm cream color. The brown paper, faux leather corner tabs are firmly sewn into place and the tie strings are present in each of those corners. The remnants of a wartime price control tag are still visible near one of the corners. Light battlefield stains are present along most of the edges of this "salty" flag, with primary staining shown in the field on the left-hand side (see all photos).  A few wear holes may be seen, primarily in areas of inked characters in the 8-9 o'clock positions.

The four large and bold vertical kanji characters closest to the hoist side edge say Buun Chokyu or "May Your Military Fortunes Be Long Lasting."  This early hinomaru yosegaki was "Presented to: Mr. Nakamura Tatsuya- From: The Ministry of Greater East Asia Undersecretary Mr. Takeuchi Shinpei and From: China Incident Director Mr. Sugihara Koota." 

Before the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, marking the start of World War Two, the conflict on the Asian mainland was known as the Great East Asia War.  The Japanese had been promoting an "Asia for Asians" and they masked their imperialist ambitions through the formation of what they called The Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.  The China Incident, also known as the Marco Polo Bridge Incident in 1937, marked the full blown start of the war between the Japanese and their Chinese, Korean, etc. neighbors.

This flag would make a great research project.... if I ever find the time!

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