Original Japanese WWII 6x24 Binoculars by Kaikosha with Leather Carrying Case

Original Item: Only One Available. These are WW2 issue Japanese army NCO/officer binoculars in original leather carry case, offered in fair service-used condition. The binoculars are fully functional, with each side having an independent focus control. Optics are mostly clear, and able to focus accurately. These bear the KAIKOSHA K.T. for Kaikosha, an organization in Kudan, Tokyo. The original Kaikosha was founded before World War II as an organization exclusively of active-duty commissioned officers and warrant officers in the Imperial Japanese Army for mutual aid, friendship, and academic research, but was re-founded after the war to represent formerly high-ranking army officials.

The organization's name means “let’s go together” or “we shall fight this war side by side,” and derives from a line in an old Chinese poem recorded in the Book of Odes.

Kaikosha was a major organization and also a sort of company that engaged in the manufacture and sale of military equipment, especially clothing, for officers. In addition to the basic tailor-made clothes, Kaikosha sold ready-made clothes that became popular at the time of World War II. Tags were attached to Kaikosha-made clothing upon which a symbol such as a cherry blossom or pentagram was emblazoned across the letters “Kaikosha,” “Rikugun Kaikosha Gunjubu,” “Kudan Kaikosha,” or “Osaka Kaikosha Shuhobu.” Kaikosha stores also sold every variety of uniform, as well as military caps, gloves, boots, sabres, pistols, holsters, binoculars, and memorabilia from military exercises and parades, among other things. All these Kaikosha-made goods were widely used by military officers.

The Binoculars bear serial number No. 121368. Overall condition is good, though some of the covering of the binoculars has cracked off due to deterioration of the plastic. The strap is gone.

The case is of the leather type, and is in rough condition with no strap, and all of the mounts for the strap are broken. It shows wear on the edges of the case, which is the usual wear point. The closure tab is retained.

Comes ready for further research and display.