Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com

[shanebux]

Hello all. I've been collecting WWI/II militaria (mostly WWII) for a few years now. Because of scarcity and cost, I had mostly stayed away from the Japanese stuff. However, I have recently started to bolster my Japanese collection. Nothing extravagant, so far just a nice Type 99 Arisaka and a bayonet... and now a soldier's Hinomaru flag.

I hate to make my first post here a request, but I was wondering if anyone here could give me a translation or point me to where I could get one. The seller provided a few translations:

ZO RIKUGUN HOHEI GUNSOU - To Army infantry sergeant
MIZUTA MASANOBU DONO - the sergeant's name
KOUKOKUSHIN - the fighting spirit of Japan
TEIKOKU BANZAI - Banzai Empire
KI BUUN CHOKYU - I pray for your military fortune
MESSHI HOUKOU - selfless devotion

I'll go ahead and post the photos, in case anyone here can help. I realize that some of the writings are too small to see clearly. I can post larger photos when I receive the flag (it was an ebay find).

[gwsiii]

Welcome to the forum, nice piece of history. Generally, that's about as much of a translation as you can expect, 'gratis'. I'll see if one of the guys can add anything to it. Generally, the larger writing on the right side, is a typical prayer for swift victory/good fortune in war, and the soldier's name, sometimes a location or date. Arrayed around the center are signatures and short prayers of a similar vein. Asking someone to translate the entire piece, is sometimes too much to ask for. I just usually ask about the prayer, name, and if there is anything of note elsewhere on the flag. Trey
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I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!

[shanebux]

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah, that makes sense. I probably should have specified what I was looking for. I realize that there are probably many signatures on the flag, and those are of lesser importance to me. It would be really great if it was dated somewhere. Mostly, I'd just like to make sure that the translations I was quoted by the seller are actually on there, and not just Japanese saying "you just bought a fake flag, ass-hat!"

[gwsiii]

I'm on the trail of one dated 1946 to the GI from his Oriental sweetheart as a going away present as he rotated back home, saying 'thanks for the great sex' amongst other things. I'll let you know what I find out on yours. Trey
_________________
Subscribe to BANZAI!
Fill out a Japanese Rifle Datasheet.
I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!

[shanebux]

[gwsiii]

Got this confirmation from Edokko,

[shanebux]

Excellent!

Thanks much to both you and Edokko!

[Edokko]

Shanebux, in case my comments may be misguiding, although there may not be more slogans on you flag than what you have had initially had translated, your flag is an exceptionally nice example with more color than the usual Yosegaki flag.