WW2 Japanese Omanari Talisman

We were fortunate to receive a small well-rounded collection of captured Japanese talismans.

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 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 Omamori is made from cloth. It is a small item which could be carried in a pocket, in the pad of your helmet liner, in the sweatband of your cap, or in other areas as a blessing or for protection.