Japanese Imperial Army Flag. [Japan: n.p., sometime between August 1st, 1934-July 15th, 1938].
25 x 34 inches, printed on white silk with red central disc. Beautifully preserved in a custom double glazed frame box - flag is viewable from both sides. Some damp-staining edges, not affecting notations - an excellent example. Nineteen manuscript notations in Japanese emanating from central disc, in a pattern reminiscent of the ensign of the Japanese Imperial Army.
A fascinating and historically important piece of World War II ephemera, signed and with slogans in support of General Hideki Toujou- this piece all the more fascinating due to the inscriptions of a number of prominent Japanese citizens, including:
-Actress Ranko Hanai (1918-1961), who was awarded an International Peace Award in Berlin in 1953 at the Berlin International Film Festival.
-Kazuo Hasagawa (1908-1984), a Japanese film actor who appeared in over 290 films between 1927 and 1963. He was posthumously awarded the People's Honor Award in 1984.
-Tsukigata Ryunosuke (1902-1970) Japanese actor who has been in over 500 films - his best known role was of the Japanese lord Nobunaga Oda.
-Nemoto Hiroshi. Commander of the 24th Division in Manchuria when the war broke out in the Pacific. He also commanded the Mongolia Garrison Army under the North China Area Army at the time of the surrender. He assumed command of the North China Area Army itself just as the war was coming to an end.
The translation of the signatures and inscriptions is as follows:
1. General Hideki Toujou (we are unable to determine whether this is in his hand, or if it is secretarial.)
2. "Certain Victory" - Tanaka
3. "Destroy American and England!"
4. Yanigada Takeo
5. "Bansai!"
6. "Great Japan will never lose!"
7. "Fighting Spirit!" - Aoki Kingo
8. "Victory! Sincerity!"
9. "Unfailing devotion to one's country!"
10. "Always be in the battlefield!"
11. "What can I hesitate to give you? I am a young cherry blossom. This life can only be meaningful by 'scattering' my life" -Tezuka Norio
12. "Get off the ground young people to the decisive battle of the big sky!"
13. "Careless is our greatest enemy !"
14. "We have victory in reach!"
15. Ranko Hanai
16. Kazua Hasegawa
17. Tsukigata Ryunosuke
18. Nemoto Hiroshi
19. "A big death is number one!" - Kimura
ID:
5950
$
4,500