Sporkkaji Posted January 25, 2011 Report Posted January 25, 2011 Hoping someone can help me out with translating this. There are a million old photos of Japanese officers posing with their swords, but this one caught my eye and I bought it because of the unusual banner. Polydor used to be a big record label with major artists in the US, and still is in the UK http://www.polydor.co.uk/. I can only guess that these might be company employees/executives proudly going off to war?? Thanks! Quote
Toryu2020 Posted January 25, 2011 Report Posted January 25, 2011 Spork - It's the Japanese USO! Can't you just tell they are all set to bring joy to the troops! -t Quote
Sporkkaji Posted January 25, 2011 Author Report Posted January 25, 2011 Heh heh, and they ALWAYS get a standing ovation Quote
Curgan Posted January 26, 2011 Report Posted January 26, 2011 Morita san, if only you posted and the translation (or wrote the kanji for us to babelfish!) :D Quote
John A Stuart Posted January 26, 2011 Report Posted January 26, 2011 遺派部兵他軍陸 The Hiyoubu Army Group Left Behind 園間慰ノレードリポ本日 The Japanese Consolation Middle Gardens I should mention these are read right to left. John Quote
Ted Tenold Posted January 26, 2011 Report Posted January 26, 2011 They all look like hardcore ABBA fans to me... well, except for that tall guy in the back. He probably digs Siouxsie and the Banshees! Quote
george trotter Posted January 26, 2011 Report Posted January 26, 2011 Thanks to Morita san's clarification of the pic, I think I read the flag as saying (roughly): top: Army relief dispatch section Bottom: Nippon Polydor Comforts Group. Probably, as happened with the allies, this company volunteer group collected and sent comforts to the war front, probably including records etc. The photo is probably to commemorate the group handing over a shipment to army representatives. Nice photo, George. Quote
Toryu2020 Posted January 26, 2011 Report Posted January 26, 2011 陸軍恤兵部派遣 日本ポリドール慰問団 Rikugun Juppei-bu Haken Nippon Polydor Imondan or Army Relief Group (Sponsored) Nippon Polydor Comfort Corps Imon is consolation, but in this case we think relief or comfort. This is, as I said tongue in cheek earlier, most likely a group of recording artists who toured around to give relief/recreation to the troops, like our USO. I expect as has been suggested that the officers are in charge of whatever base they were at, though this almost looks like they posed after surrender they look so dour. Tip of the hat to Colonel Creswell for his invaluable assistance... -t Quote
Curgan Posted January 26, 2011 Report Posted January 26, 2011 What a pleasant group of fellas they were... Quote
cabowen Posted January 26, 2011 Report Posted January 26, 2011 Curgan said: What a pleasant group of fellas they were... The operative word is "majime"..... War is no laughing matter..... Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.