WW2 Japanese Banzai Flag Large 4×3 ft 120+ Signatures

These carried-in-battle national flags are considered highly spiritual talismans.

They were most often made by friends and family. These were given as gifts to departing soldiers and sailors as they left their family & friends to join the military.

The Japanese population fully supported their soldiers & sailors by making thousand stitch belts, going off to war banners, comfort bags loaded with goodies and collecting signatures on flags like this one to be given to servicemen.

They typically bore words of encouragement, calls for bravery, honor, loyalty etc. They were often signed so that the signatures radiated away from the sun just as the rays of the sun appear to radiated away on the rising sun flag.

These were carried folded up and tucked at the top of the helmet, worn around the neck, carried in the tunic, haversack, packs & pouches and eventually tied to the rifle or bayonet in the final Banzai charge as a way to protect the bearer.

This printed, loosely woven, cotton flag has an incredible 120+ signatures! Few have more than 25.

Moreover, this flag is much larger than most at 44 x 36 inches.

Both cotton corner ties are present. One corner is reinforced with thick paper, vs leather, leading to the conclusion that the family of this man was not wealthy. Although not wealthy, this man was well loved given the incredible number of people who signed his flag.

This flag still has a remnant of the original price tag as shown.