WW2 Japanese Thousand Stitch Belt Senninbari

During World War Two the family of Japanese servicemen, both Army and Navy, would stand on the street and ask passersby to add a stitch, one of one thousand, into a belt made of cotton or silk.

Once 1000 stitches had been sewn in, the belt would be presented to the serviceman for wear under their military uniform.  Wearing of this belt would provide the wearer with immunity to injury in battle.

The basic unstitched belts were sold in stores and came in many varieties with various slogans and prayers printed on them.  The Sailor or Soldier would write their name on them.