WW2 Japanese Battle Damaged Sun Helmet Osaka 1944

This is the standard issue, battle damaged, WW2 Japanese bamboo and cotton issue sun helmet.

These were designed to be worn in tropical climates. They were worn alone but also were worn over the Type 90 steel helmet to mitigate tropical sun.

These all left the factory with two labels; one for production information and the other for the owner’s name.

This one has a label indicating it was made at the Osaka Depot in Showa year 19 (1944).

This particular helmet is battledamaged on the right rear. The cotton is torn on the exterior, has some small holes, the bamboo is damaged and the interior cotton has seam damage. It also has a large amount of what appears to be dried blood and possible dried cerebrospinal fluid on the interior which passed through to the exterior. This staining is immediately adjacent to the exterior battledamage.

Seen together, this damaged and blood staining is consistent with concussion and possible small schrapnel damage from an exploding artillery or mortar shell while it was being worn.

Battle damaged equipment displays are extremely interesting to see as they evoke immediate conversation and thoughts about what must have happened to the young man who once wore or carried the equipment displayed.