WW2 Japanese Cherry Blossom Sennibari 1000 Stitch Vest

This is a very uncommon World War II Japanese Good luck vest.

These were worn as a talisman to ward off death or serious injury in battle.

In fact, the Kanji on the rear, 祈 久長運武, means “Prayer May your military fortunes be long lasting.”

The Kanji is superimposed over a Cherry Blossom, called Sakura, in Japan. Cherry blossoms only bloom for a short period, and their petals fall off quickly, making them a visual representation of the transient nature of life. This idea is captured by the Japanese concept of “mono no aware,” which is a feeling of sadness or melancholy when appreciating the beauty of something knowing it will soon be gone. They were also associated with the samurai, the warrior class of feudal Japan, and symbolized the brief but honorable lives of these warriors.

Each knot was hand done by a single individual. These were prepared by female relatives of Japanese service members, whether army or navy.

For every hundred Senninbari belts, worn around the waist, you might find one Senninbari vest or skull cap. Of course, these were worn underneath the uniform. As you can see this one was used extensively before being removed from a KIA or WIA.