Hello:

I purchased a large silk Japanese WWII flag (white with a red circle, leather corners) at the estate sale of an elderly Japanese gentleman who lived in the neighborhood I grew up in.

My Mom shared with me that while she was talking with him many years ago, he revealed that he was a pilot in WWII and had volunteered to be a Kamikaze pilot.

Obviously he never flew a mission, maybe the practice was ended during his service, I don't know. The flag is in pristine, unused condition. I've seen a good handful of Kamikaze flags with writing on them.

My question is, were these silk flags given to all Japanese soldiers as a government issue or only to pilots who were chosen to fly kamekazi missions? Or where they given to the family members to wave as they flew off?

Thank you for your help!

Julie

JULIE-
I HAVE NEVER SEEN A "KAMIKAZE FLAG." YOU MAY BE REFERRING TO THE FLAGS GIVEN TO YOUNG SOLDIERS AS THEY DEPARTED FOR THE WAR FRONT. THESE HAVE THE SIGNATURES OF THEIR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES WISHING HIM BRAVERY IN BATTLE AND GOOD LUCK.
THE KAMIKAZE DID WEAR A HACHIMAKI OR HEADSCARF.
YOUR FLAG IS A STANDARD JAPANESE FLAG AND IS THE SAME FLAG IN USE TODAY. HOPE THIS HELPS.
BOB

Hello Bob:

Thank you for your response.

So when I see photos of similar flags that have writing all over them, they are not necessarily from a soldier who was a Kamikaze, but from any soldier who served? Would a soldier have received a flag like this from his family or was each soldier given one by the military when they entered the service?

Is there any difference between the flags produced back then and the flags produced today?

Thank you so much for your time!

Julie

Dear Julie, every Japanese soldier was given/received a flag. They were a going off to war present & signed by family, friends, fellow soldiers & often have ink stamps from temples.Yes,they're still making these flags today. Very difficult to tell new,unsigned examples from old ones.