Original Japanese WWII U.S. 24th Infantry Division Captured Hand-Painted Silk Good Luck Flag with Lots of Well Wishes & Page of Translations - Captured at Bamboo Ridge, Philippines - 27 x 28”

Original Item. Only One Available. This is a great captured example of a Japanese Good Luck flag, with dozens of well wishes, with the largest at the top reading Prayers for Eternal Good Fortune in War. This example is inscribed along the top in English with:

BAMBOO-RIDGE
Philippines JAN 1st, 1945
24 DIVISION

The flag measures roughly 27 x 28” and is missing both of its original corner reinforcements. There is also heavy tearing in spots across the flag and a few holes in the red sun, which appears painted or printed. There is some moderate wear across, with staining of red and pink. The name at the right reads “For Mr. Eitaro Inafuchi”.

A phrase along the top reads “Gyokusai” which is a unique Japanese word that means “Crush the Jewel” and refers to when an entire unit is destroyed in battle. It is how they would describe a unit that sacrificed itself in honorable combat. They would describe the Alamo as an “American Gyokusai”.

There are several other well wishes and likely even more signatures, but some of the flag is quite difficult to read. 

We found some references in period newspapers to Leyte’s “Bamboo Ridge” which we assume the flag is referring to. This requires a lot more research and will make for a fantastic display.

The flag is made of what appears to be silk or rayon cloth, an early form of synthetic cloth made from wood, with the red "sun" dyed or painted on the middle. The flag is in fair but rough condition and is the real deal. The writing is still mostly legible, and this would make a fine display piece for a wall or glass table. These are getting harder and harder to find in any condition.

Ready to display!

The Good Luck Flag, known as hinomaru yosegaki (日の丸 寄せ書き) in the Japanese language, was a traditional gift for Japanese servicemen deployed during the military campaigns of the Empire of Japan, though most notably during World War II. The flag given to a soldier was a national flag signed by friends and family, often with short messages wishing the soldier victory, safety, and good luck.

The Japanese call their country's flag hinomaru, which translates literally to "sun-round", referencing the red circle on a white field. When the hinomaru was signed, the Japanese characters were usually written vertically, and radiated outward from the edge of the red circle. This practice is referenced in the second term, yosegaki, meaning "sideways-writing". The phrase hinomaru-yosegaki can be interpreted as "To write sideways around the red sun", describing the appearance of the signed flag. This particular example completely unique is written in old KANJI the writing are mainly Japanese names of this soldier's family and friends with quotes and phrases.