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Japan
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Japanese Diplomatic Corps Uniform (Item JAPAN 2-1) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is incredible, to say the least. We are very proud to offer this super-rare outfit in the knowledge that it is one of the most beautiful military or civil outfits. It consists of the full-dress cashmere jacket with tails. The front, back, cuffs, and tails are with very heavy gold bullion paulowinia leaves. The Imperial crests have extensive vine design trimmed in geometric and floral design. The buttons have the raised relief with paulowinia design. There is also the padded white interior. The ensemble has a black cashmere vest with five buttons and three pockets with matching trousers with a broad gold-bullion stripe along the full pant’s legs. Additionally, there is the fore-and-aft cap trimmed with gold paulowinia leaves and an intricate maze design and single gold side button with short white feathers on top. Emblem name in Japanese characters inside may work out to be name (“Nishizaki”). Also included is the beautiful diplomatic dress sword with plain blade, black leather scabbard with brass paulowinia trim and gold wire-wrapped handle with Phoenix hand guard and grip. The pommel has raised relief paulowinia design along with carry strap. The uniform and sword belonged to the last Japanese diplomatic delegation to the United States prior to WWII. After Pearl Harbor the Japanese officers of the diplomatic corps beat a hasty retreat from the embassy in Washington and left behind many great things. The consigner, a Washington public figure who goes unnamed, has said that this uniform was given to him by an employee of a federal investigative agency in 1958. This agency also goes unnamed. This has to be one of the greater items we have ever offered on our site and the condition is fantastic! A finer investment in WWII exotica could not be found as far as important Japanese memorabilia.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure, First Class (Zuihosho) (Item JAPAN 2-2) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This was the second-highest award presented to Japanese heroes by the direct auspices of the emperor, himself. The award was established in 1888 and its central feature surround by 16 connected circles was a mirror that was considered a sacred treasure bequeathed by the first Emperor Jimmu. There are also four or eight beams of light, depending on whether you are looking at the badge or the star. The order was established by Emperor Meigi as an award for distinguished military or civil merit. It comes in eight classes. It can be awarded to foreigners. This is considered the most coveted and distinguished order conferred by Japan and of course in this class very rare. This medal is all the more rare in that it is its original presentation box. There has been an enamel repair to one of the arms of the badge not readily noticeable at all; very professionally done. There is some very minor damage to the top and the red-enameled jewel configuration at the very top. The lacquered case is in beautiful condition with a few small inconsequential nicks at the edges. All in all we would have to say the general condition is spectacular for an article that may well be at least 60 years old; possibly 90 or 100. The fact that it is all together makes for an incredible find and an investment extraordinaire for the advanced collector.
PRICE: Sold |
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Imperial Tachi Sword (Item JAPAN 2-3) |
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| DESCRIPTION: The word “tachi” in Japanese means “long sword” or “extra-long sword” and was favored by some Samurai. It was considered the ancestor of the katana Samurai sword and was used in combat from the earliest days of the Samurai until the later 1500 or 1600s, basically near the time of the Tokugawa Bakufu (shogun government). After that time the katana was the combat sword and the tachi, with its great historical tradition became the court sword. These magnificent examples of Japanese high art were frequently elaborately decorated; in many cases with the chicken or rooster heads. These animals had special significant to the Samurai class. The magnificent sword we offer here has the small chicken-head finial or cap end. The sword is signed “Nagamitsu,” who was ranked as ‘good.’ This is considered a small tachi. Nagamitsu worked in the Bizen Provence in 1688, but there are Nagamitsus from that period and earlier and then down through the Koto period all the way to the late 1940s, but it is of the Shinogi Zukun shape so the consigner felt it dates in the late 1600s to early 1700s, possibly Muromachi or early Shinto period; in other words, late Koto or early Shinto. The saya, or scabbard, is of old lacquer with painted gold design. The painting is old. The saya could go back as far as the 1600 or 1700 period. The temper on the blade is excellent and exceptional. It is admittedly difficult to determine the actual age on this sword, but it is in good shape. The consigner valued it from $5,500 to $6,500 and this evaluation was done in 1999. He said back then that tachi with older blades were commanding higher prices. That was then and this is now. The length of the blade is 23 1/2 inches. The entire sword is 38 1/2 inches long. The grip is 9 inches long. The grip is of ray skin with tsuba is in the standard court-sword style. The menuki, or ornaments, are super nice, large dragons. The same ray skin grip is in fine shape. The shego, or cord, is knotted in the Imperial tachi fashion. The fuchi are finely cut and decorative. The koiguchi on the saya (scabbard) is intact and in good shape. The mekugi or metal fittings that substitute for the wooden peg on a katana are also decorated and fit together with inner screw arrangement. The saya is painted with flying-crane motif, but has metal decorations in about in places. The sayajiri, or scabbard tip, is metal (bronze). The kabuto-gane, or pommel cap, is, of course, the chicken head and is of bronze. The ashi, or hangers, are in white leather with bronze tips. This is a magnificent tachi and is the ultimate in Japanese decorative swords.
PRICE: Sold |
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Book Letzte Gedichte; im Angesicht des Galgens Presented to Hans Bauer (Item JAPAN 2-4; LUFT 12-1) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is a book presented in Munich to General of the Luftwaffe and Hitler’s personal pilot, Hans Bauer, on his 80th birthday in 1977. It translates to: “Last Poems; in the Face of the Gallows. It is a 40-page booklet of poems and letters from Japanese officers and statesmen who were condemned to death by hanging in the 1940s after the war-crimes trials. It’s signed by the author. The Japanese is translated to German. It was published in 1965 by the Samurai Verlag in Munich. It comes with a slip-in sleeve protector, so it is in immaculate condition and is positively rare.
PRICE: SOLD |
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WWII Japanese Parade Uniform (Item JAPAN 2-5) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This fantastic uniform comes with the following incredible group of items: hat, tunic, trousers, sash, portepee, shoulder boards; all described below.<>br>
Hat: Appears to be made from blue felt with gold-bullion star embroidered on top, with gold-bullion piping all around the hat. A nicely detailed Rising Sun is centered on front of the hat. Hat cord is attached with two lotus-flower buttons, finished off with a nice leather bill. A few mothing spots are in evidence on the hat, with a very slight hole forming on the left center. There is an accompanying hat feather that is in excellent condition and comes complete with a box and tube. Hat size: very small.<>br>
Hat: Appears to be made from blue felt with gold-bullion star embroidered on top, with gold-bullion piping all around the hat. A nicely detailed Rising Sun is centered on front of the hat. Hat cord is attached with two lotus-flower buttons, finished off with a nice leather bill. A few mothing spots are in evidence on the hat, with a very slight hole forming on the left center. There is an accompanying hat feather that is in excellent condition and comes complete with a box and tube. Hat size: very small.<>br>
Hat: Appears to be made from blue felt with gold-bullion star embroidered on top, with gold-bullion piping all around the hat. A nicely detailed Rising Sun is centered on front of the hat. Hat cord is attached with two lotus-flower buttons, finished off with a nice leather bill. A few mothing spots are in evidence on the hat, with a very slight hole forming on the left center. There is an accompanying hat feather that is in excellent condition and comes complete with a box and tube. Hat size: very small.<>br>
Hat: Appears to be made from blue felt with gold-bullion star embroidered on top, with gold-bullion piping all around the hat. A nicely detailed Rising Sun is centered on front of the hat. Hat cord is attached with two lotus-flower buttons, finished off with a nice leather bill. A few mothing spots are in evidence on the hat, with a very slight hole forming on the left center. There is an accompanying hat feather that is in excellent condition and comes complete with a box and tube. Hat size: very small.<>br>
Hat: Appears to be made from blue felt with gold-bullion star embroidered on top, with gold-bullion piping all around the hat. A nicely detailed Rising Sun is centered on front of the hat. Hat cord is attached with two lotus-flower buttons, finished off with a nice leather bill. A few mothing spots are in evidence on the hat, with a very slight hole forming on the left center. There is an accompanying hat feather that is in excellent condition and comes complete with a box and tube. Hat size: very small.<>br>
Hat: Appears to be made from blue felt with gold-bullion star embroidered on top, with gold-bullion piping all around the hat. A nicely detailed Rising Sun is centered on front of the hat. Hat cord is attached with two lotus-flower buttons, finished off with a nice leather bill. A few mothing spots are in evidence on the hat, with a very slight hole forming on the left center. There is an accompanying hat feather that is in excellent condition and comes complete with a box and tube. Hat size: very small.
Hat: Appears to be made from blue felt with gold-bullion star embroidered on top, with gold-bullion piping all around the hat. A nicely detailed Rising Sun is centered on front of the hat. Hat cord is attached with two lotus-flower buttons, finished off with a nice leather bill. A few mothing spots are in evidence on the hat, with a very slight hole forming on the left center. There is an accompanying hat feather that is in excellent condition and comes complete with a box and tube. Hat size: very small. Tunic: Beautiful black tunic with red piping. All lotus buttons are present on tunic, and the collar is accented with gold bullion thread. There is what appears to be a removable sweat band inside the collar, which also bears Japanese inscriptions. Collar is embroidered with gold bullion thread. Sleeves are beautifully adorned with a sweeping gold-bullion pattern, finished off with a red cuff and accented with three lotus flower buttons. There are three inner pockets present on the inside of the tunic. There is minor mothing present in various spots on the tunic's body. Tunic size: very small. Pants: Black pants are in excellent condition. Bold red stripe runs down the side of the pants. Buttons are in great shape and are inscribed with German lettering, reading: Steinnuss Hosenknopf. The maker mark/tailor mark is in English and reads: Onoya & Co Tokyo. Very minor mothing present on pants. Pant size: very small. Sash: Red-and-white-striped silk sash with a gold-covered buckle/tightener. Ends of the belt where they feed the tassels are becoming frayed, and one side is coming apart (held together by 1/4 inch of fabric). Gold tassels are perfectly intact, with slight discoloration. Separate fastener/loop also shows weave coming loose, and shows signs of wear and repair. Portepee: For dagger/sword/samurai sword. Made from durable, gold bullion from loop to the knot itself. Comes in separate box with Japanese inscriptions on top and on the ends. Shoulder boards: Boards come in chrome presentation case, lined in red felt. There is an individual compartment for each board. Boards themselves are constructed from dense gold bullion. One board has a silver star attached, and the second board has evidence that there may have been one previously affixed. Buttons are attached to the end of both boards. Polished chrome clasps in back of both boards are in excellent condition. All Items packed within a: Trunk: 30" x 17" x 7" canvas suitcase/trunk with wood ribs and leather on all four sides and top. Wood ribs appear to be oak and are held in place by brass corners and rivets. Handles on both ends are intact. Stitching on right handle is coming apart. Handle on front has broken off of the leather strap and is now inside of the trunk. Stitching on back is separating from the frame and both front corners are splitting. Both locks work and come with key. Japanese symbols appear on left side. Overall, shows some wear and staining. This uniform is as complete as we have ever seen and its condition is great considering is age. It is probably prewar or early war. It is historically very important, indeed. PRICE: Sold |
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Fine WWII Japanese Samurai Sword (Shin-Gunto) (Item JAPAN 2-6) |
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| DESCRIPTION: Here is an excellent WWII officer’s samurai sword in the traditional mounts except of the tsuba (sword guard). That particular appendage is much older; probably from this officer’s family; possibly the actual samurais were in his ancestry. The tsuba is in iron with something like floral design. The sword in its scabbard is about 39 inches long. The scabbard I leather covered. The fittings are standard WWII issue. The menuki are the chrysanthemum style. The fughi kashira also are the usual decorated, also with chrysanthemum. The blade is 25 inches long from the brass habaki; typical fine steel, machine-made blade with artificial hamon, a misty-white line that produces a grain (hada) and a highly tempered edge (yakiba). The sword is typical of those manufactured at the Mukden Arsenal in Manchuria. These blades are classifiable as ‘superior’ machine-made weapons. This one may be machine polished, but from the look of this one it may have been hand finished. It is one beautiful blade; literally no chips, dings, stains. It’s just as nice as they ever come, and better: the perfect one for an advanced collector or the WWII buff who desires to own a fine example of the world’s finest swords.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Japanese Carved Skull World War II (Item JAPAN 2-7) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is not the cheap, modern carving in reground bone that you often see. This is a genuine World War II relic brought back by an American veteran from Guam, where he removed it from the tents of a Japanese officer after the Marines overran the entrenched position. We are proud that often Japanese warrior types would carry such a fetish as a reminder of the frailty of life and the promise of heaven for the bravest of soldiers. The piece is signed with an ivory inset with the initials or logo of the carver, who is excellent at his art. This skull is carved from a jadelike reddish stone and is about 2 inches high and about 2 inches wide. It measures about 1 1/2 inches across the top of the skull's cranium. This is quite macabre, but a beautiful memento of the Pacific war.
PRICE: Sold |
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Japanese Soldier’s WWII Photo Album (Item JAPAN 2-8) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is an album that was found on one of the Pacific islands held by the Japanese Imperial Army at the close of the Pacific War. It contains 48 photographs of soldiers, family and friends of the soldier who owned it, officers, enlisted personnel, army and navy personages, ships etc. On the cover is a cloth Japanese miniature flag about 2 x 1 1/2 inches in size and there are four more inside on some of the pages. This was a typical patriotic soldier. Many pictures are missing, but the 48 that are there are very interesting. This is a very nice and historically important relic of the Second World War. We pray there is never another!
PRICE: $495.00 |
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Magazine BERLIN, ROM, TOKIO of the Kultur Institute in Berlin (Item JAPAN 2-9; GEN 12-12) |
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| DESCRIPTION: The title BERLIN, ROME, TOKYO gives the idea behind the material. These are monthly issues that are beautifully illustrated with magnificent photography throughout. The drift was to promote understanding and admiration of the partners of NS Germany among the German people. It had a very limited circulation in that it was only issued to members of the Kulterellen Beziehungen der Volker des Weltpolitishen Dreiecks. You almost never see an issue for sale at shows or on web sites. They’re extremely rare. Almost every issue has pictures of the NS leaders in full regalia and then featured pictures of the main subject of the month. These particular issues dated April 1943, Jan 1943, and Dec 1941 are partially devoted to Japanese art, history, and culture. The April 1943 one opens with a magnificent picture of Adolf Hitler walking between his Leibstandarte men who joyfully raise their arms in a salute to their leader. This was the occasion of his birthday April 20, 1943. There is also a great picture of Reichsaussenminister Johachim v. Ribbentrop with his little son, who lost his dad to the hangman’s noose in 1946 at Nuremberg. There are many other pictures of leaders and statesmen and then there’s the magnificent Japanese section. The magazines have quite a few great advertisements at the rear; many in brilliant color. The January issue is almost entirely devoted to Japanese subjects and the December 1941 issue has Italian subjects as well as other diplomatic leaders—wonderful! This issue has some great Japanese art prints that are typical and gorgeous! So we offer as a group only these three rare issues of BERLIN, ROM, TOKIO. You won’t see any again in all probability. All are in top condition and considering their age this alone is spectacular. They are large-format books measuring 14 /2 x 10 1/2 inches. Don’t miss them. They are ultimately important.
PRICE: $195.00; for all three |
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Large Bronze Medal of the Japanese-German Institute of Culture (Item JAPAN 2-10; NSD 16-7) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is a beautiful bronze medal from 1937 commemorating the 10 years of the Japanisch-Deutsches Kultur-Institut. This was the organization set up for promoting friendship and cooperation between Germany and Japan. It has the Berlin Brandenburg Gate on its obverse surmounted with a swastika and the words “Den Helfern im Volkischen Austausch,” “The Helpers in the Folk Exchange.” This would mean that this was a special medal for presentation to those volunteers and academically trained professional people who had helped in this effort. On the obverse there is a depiction of the Japanese Imperial Palace with the Meganebashi Bridge in the foreground and presumably the same message in Japanese is printed around the edges. The rising sun is shown where the swastika is on the obverse side. The medal, or nonportable award, is in solid bronze and quite heavy. It measures about 4 inches in diameter and is in mint condition. The institute was established in 1927 and in 1930, 576 Japanese stayed in Germany of whom 60 percent were scholars and the institute promoted academic exchanges influenced by the concepts of geopolitics and panasianism. All sorts of special social meetings between Japanese and Germans were actively promoted. Various NS Party functionaries and organized groups among the NS organizations were encouraged to become involved with the agenda of the institute and especially the Hitler Youth. Both the HJ and BDM were rather deeply engrossed with the various projects of the group. NS-uniformed people were seen all through Berlin dining with, walking with, and engaged otherwise with Japanese leaders and students. Almost all Japanese who came to Germany learned practical German speaking at the institute during the first 2 to 6 months of their stay. A constant visitor and lecturer at the institute was Baron Hiroshi Oshima, who was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army and ambassador to NS Germany prior to WWII and all during the war. Oshima was said to be more Nazi than the Nazis; a reference that he proudly wore. He never wavered in his confidence that Germany would emerge victorious and in those last desperate years (1944-1945) he was often speaking before assembled crowds of servicemen whom he tried to instill with his patriotism and fervor; he was truly the Asiatic Goebbels. The institute did much in the way of disseminating propaganda that was much needed by the leaders of the Reich. One of the leading lecturers at the institute was Professor Karl Haushofer, a man who entered academia with the aim of restoring and regenerating Germany, and he was a complete Orientalphile majoring in the knowledge of Japanese art and culture. In 1908 the army (he was a general) sent him to Tokyo to study the Japanese Army. He was greeted by the Japanese emperor and got to know many important people in politics and the armed forces. He later was very instrumental in linking Japan to the axis powers acting in accordance with the theories of his book Geopolitics of the Pacific Ocean. The many facets of the institute included the promotion of the Japanischer Besuchs-und Jugend Austausch, (the youth exchange visits between Germany and Japan in 1938 and 1940). There was a great article about these exchanges between Hitler, youth delegations, and Japanese counterparts in the fall issue of “Military Advisor” by William P.B.R. Saris. The name of the article is “German Japanese Youth Exchange Badges.” We have used a few of the pictures that he provided here in our pictorials. We do not have any of the badges he shows, but would certainly be interested in obtaining any that could be offered. The bronze medal that we offer here is one of the most desirable of the German-Japanese Institute items ever offered and certainly would be a great culture item to add to an important collection of WWII items.
PRICE: $1,550.00 |
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Japanese WWII Photo Album (Item JAPAN 2-11) |
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| DESCRIPTION: Do I Hear Tremendous??
This word might actually underestimate this fantastic album. Let’s start with the cover. This is great with the capital (G). In the left corner is an embossed order of the golden kite in full color. The rest of the cover has numerous shadow illustrations of Japans soldiers, tanks, airplanes, artillery, marine corps, in action in warfare. The cover is 12 ½ inches by 9 inches and about 1 inch thick. It is in excellent condition. An absolutely stunning cover for a prodigiously wonderful album. The album opens with pictures (size 4x5 ½) of Japanese commanders. These men probably were the superiors of the officer who assembled the album. His photo may be in the next pages. The album goes on with some of the best pictures of this aspect of war that we have ever seen. 116 great photos of Japanese troops at training, at battle, stations as samurai, as kendo fighters, officers, enlisted personal, ceremonies, wives, sweethearts, even a great picture of a soldier using a knee morter. Many pictures of comrades posed together, great mock battle scenes with hand crafted dummies…the list goes on and on. The former owner (the soldier) even attached little colorful rising sun flags here and there through out his album. I definitely believe this is one of the best Japanese war albums ever offered on any web site or military show. PRICE:An archival treasure! $850.00 |
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Japanese Military Photo Album (Item JAPAN 2-12) |
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| DESCRIPTION: Here again is a great album brought back from the Pacific War. Totally gorgeous and vastly historically important. 78 clear and brilliant first run original pictures that include officers, group photos of soldiers, some with samurai swords or bayonets, training exercises, camp scenes. There is a priceless picture of a military party where it is obvious that the officers and enlisted personal are quite intoxicated and the four Geishas are looking quite wary of what comes next from these 18 or so samurai “wanabees”. Some of the pictures show the soldiers in Manchurian front winter uniforms. There is a group picture where some of the soldiers are dressed in kendo sword fighting outfits. At the back of the album there is a charming picture of the father of the owner of the album with his wife and in his hand is the picture of his son that was either serving or had given his life for the emperor and Nippon. Next to this is a picture of his mother who holds the future soldier upon her lap. The cover 10 x 7 ½ is covered in green velvet material with incised Japanese letters in gold.
PRICE: $780.00 |
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Japanese WWII Streamer Banner (Item JAPAN 2-13) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This type of traditional war streamer goes back to the wars of the samurai when they were carried into battle attached to a pole that was mounted at the back of the horse saddle and sometimes transferred to the back of the warrior’s armor. This was a way that samurai in the thick of battle might not lose sight of his battle group while thousands joined in combat against opposing clans. The tradition continued in WWII with these streamers decorating the tents and command posts of officers in the homeland and also in the field. These had a large silk screened print of the military flag, the rising sun and the national flag. In between is the emperor’s logo, the chrysanthemum. They were hung from walls and flag poles. There are many Kanji characters in black letters down the front. These streamers are often seen in scenes of officers in front of headquarters in various books about the Pacific War. The pictures are not really indicative of the true colors since due to its size we had to shoot it outside. This piece measures 10 feet 4 inches by 2 ½ feet. (Very big!) A great item that is rare and speaks of the great and proud samurai tradition.
PRICE: $495.00 |
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1920’s Souvenir Samurai Sword (Item JAPAN 2-14) |
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| DESCRIPTION: True this is not a Japanese National Treasure by any means, but it is a historically important item on its own and would make a great decoration in any office or den belonging to a Romanticist like us. Do not sell it short; it does have age and a mystic dramatic quality. The most interesting part is the fact that it is Chinese made, with a Chinese Dragon and spirit figure decorating the scabbard. This was from the pre war times when China still respected the Japanese. The sword is most likely from the 1920’s when so many Americans and Europeans visited the orient, but it could even pre-date those times to the 1880’s or 1890’s. The silver dragon is super looking and the grip insets nice. The blade is steel but certainly not crafted as a fine Japanese blade would be. The length of the entire sword in its scabbard is 38 inches. The blade length is 25 inches. The scabbard is leather. The dragon seems to be of silver. If it was some sort of a purchased keepsake, it must have been an expensive one in its time.
PRICE: SOLD |
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