Autographed good luck flag carried by Japanese Army officer Aoki Toshio : Halmahera, September 1945 Accession Number: RELAWM31958.002

Description

JJapanese naval engineer's autographed national flag with numerous signatures and slogans in black ink. Most of the signatures are accompanied by personal seals in red ink. Apart from the traditional wish of long lasting good fortune in war, there is the slogan 'Help your country with technology' and two poems. One translates as 'Looking at a soldier Who is going to war, My heart follows him In excitement across the sea'. The other poem, a haiku, translates as 'Winter has come High above the soldier going to war Is the colour of the sky'. The flag was originally presented to Takada Yojuji, a naval engineer, by Moriyama Yakujiro, from the Navy Department of Works.

Contextual Description

Presented to Major Phillips, representing the Australian Military Forces, at the surrender of the Japanese forces by Japanese officers at Halmahera in September 1945.

Details

Conflicts

• Second World War, 1939-1945

Places

• Halmahera Island

Units

• Imperial Japanese Army

Tags

• National flags
• Patriotic and commemorative flags
• Autographs
• Surrender ceremonies