Recent pick up. I please ask for comments. Cloth is very thin and delicate, but how do I differenciate between silk and cotton? I hope that I have it oriented correctly. All comments most welcome.

 

Thanks, Al

To me this is a Sea Bee flag. I don't believe any part of it was written by a Japanese.

Thanks Eric. I have heard of Sea Bees copying Kanji from Japanese food crates, etc. Looking at the reinforced corners, they have a silver foil like finish. Could the flag be original, just made up by non-Japanese? Any of the Kanji correct?

 

Thanks again,

Al

I agree with Eric that a non Japanese tried to make this flag into a Yosegaki. Sadly there's no way to date when the forgery was attempted although it looks like whomever it was was copying kanji from something. The flag itself may be wartime manufacture if it's silk, likewise rayon or cotton that don't glow under a black light. The photos are so small I can't really see details.

From some older posts about faked Japanese flags:

 

 

From some older posts about faked Japanese flags:

 

Ditto with this cartoon

 

Sea Bee created flags: One giveaway is the vertical orientation, as well these flags seem to measure in the 20" X 17" range while the preference for a genuine "good luck" flag seems to be 30" X 27"ish.

Sea Bee created flags: One giveaway is the vertical orientation, as well these flags seem to measure in the 20" X 17" range while the preference for a genuine "good luck" flag seems to be 30" X 27"ish.

 

Thank you all for the additional comments.

 

For what it's worth, a Japanese citizen friend of my brother said it is original. He said that there is a lot of very simple writing on the flag that appears to be from young children who have not yet mastered Kanji. Also, this flag measures 28" x 39". He translated some of the writing into the typical May God Prosper Your Arms and Contunued Good Luck in the Fortunes of War.

 

The flag belonged to the father of a friend of my Brother. He was a Marine Corps pilot in the Pacific and acquired the flag on Okinawa. We have provinance, just need to see who actually made it.

 

The Japanese-American Society has an office not too far away. I'll run it by there to see what they say. I will report back.

 

Thanks, Al

Al,

 

I think it depends on what your definition of "original" is. Is there a chance it is a souvenir produced during the occupation period? Yes, I believe it could be. The chances of this being a prayer flag given to / carried by an actual soldier during the war = absolutely zero.

 

There is no chance in hell that little children who could not write Kanji would be making something like this to be given to a soldier going off to war. Can you imagine how disrespectful this would be? I personally don't see it.

 

The fact that someone can read parts of it doesn't mean much either. I have no understanding of Arabic whatsoever but if asked to copy some symbols I probably could to a degree that a native speaker could figure them out.

 

Just offering my opinion for whatever it's worth.