WW2 Japanese Bhuddist Wooden Talisman Mount Narita

In addition to Japanese soldiers wearing senninbari belts, senninbari vests and thousand stitch caps, Japanese soldiers and sailors also carried religious symbols like this one.

Shintoism and Buddhism were the most common religions in Japan during World War II. In fact, the government pushed for nationalistic Shintoism.

A soldier or sailor would visit a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine, and purchase one of these talismans to bless them & protect them from harm during battle.  If they were unable to acquire one before they departed, friends and family, or their community, could send these talismans to them.

This talisman says Moint Narita 成田山 which was a very large Buddhist temple in Narita, Chiba, Japan.  The temple was founded in 940 AD.

The small wooden block has a hole in the top drilled so they could be worn around the neck on a string or tied the inside of a helmet or carried in the pocket or pack.

This sort of personal effect humanizes your World War II Japanese display.

We were fortunate enough to receive a nice collection of captured Japanese talismans.