Japanese WW2 Soldier's Personal Flag. Silk material with corner ties present. 24 ½” x 37”. In WW2, most Japanese soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army carried a national flag. It was a patriotic gesture, but also served the purpose for the soldier to have a way to signal friendly aircraft to avoid being attacked as the enemy. The soldiers also would take out their flags and wave them when they won an engagement with the enemy. This example has; which appears to be brushed on in black paint or ink along top edge. Wakayama is a city on Japan’s main island, Honshu. A 13” red "Hinomaru" is printed to the center of the flag's white field.‍ The edges are all hemmed and the ties have flimsy leather triangles on both sides at those two corners. There is a stain about 10” over the area of the words. There are several small hole and some parting of the silk weave, however these are not distracting to the way this flag presents. It has been folded and some creases remain. These might be able to be steamed out, I leave that to the next owner. The silk is yellowed, which is typical of a cloth item of this age and which has been used in the period. It is an interesting souvenir flag, likely carried by a soldier of the Imperial Japanese Army. Price: $275.00 (ref C-344)