Menuki that is not menuki.

Greetings,

With the approval of certain high-ranking board members I have carefully extracted the (what I thought was) Menuki from a tsuka off a Wakizashi. The sword I inherited from my grand-dad who was a WW2 Marine who fought many famous Pacific island battles. But anyways...It turns out that these are not Menuki and are actually Japanese military insignia pins. So if anyone can help identify which miltary division the pins are from that would be great.

Also I have included some pics of 2 of the 4 flags I have. Both flags has Kanji writing. One is hand writ and the other flag/headband is print. But I am uber Kanji noob and if someone can help with the translation that would also be helpful. A side note. My granddad said that he thought it was a family name and that possibly he wanted the flag returned.

Menuki 1.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xxlotus8xx/4694065994/

Menuki 2.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xxlotus8xx/4693428017/

Headband.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xxlotus8xx/4694064564/

Kanji on flag.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xxlotus8xx/4694061700/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xxlotus8xx/4694059556/

Ray, maybe you'd get in touch with Rich Catalano here :

http://www.imperialjapanmedalsandbadges.com/

Rey, flipped and rotated last pic in your series.

Showa gan(?) nen roku gatsu jun nichi XX (this is a date perhaps June 10, 1926).

Charlie Brashear

Ray - flipped and rotated the other flag picture - I think it is "man" = 10,000. I believe when used in reference to the emperor this was (?) a reference to greatness or long life. Hopefully, someone more knowledgeable will confirm or correct.

Charlie Brashear

Edit: correct misspelling

Ray - Kanji on the headband on left appear to be the family name Hisanaga. I cannot read the superscript character on the right. I think the other kanji on the right are luck or fortune. Again, more knowledgeable member of the forum will confirm or correct.

Charlie Brashear

Thanks to all for the help!

The mystery has been unveiled. The sword is revealing its truth!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taisei_Yokusankai

Headband;

祈 武運長久 – Wish the fortune in the war.

Date;

昭和廿年六月十日 – Showa 20-nen 6-gatsu 10-ka (= June 10, 1945)

The painted out characters may be 入営 (Nyuei = enlistment).

Moriyama-san, thank you for the corrections Clearly I still have a lot to learn :lol:

Charlie Brashear

To Charlie and Koichi.

Many thanks for the assistance in the translation .

This journey through time that my grandfather provided the path to is proving quite rewarding and fascinating.

For example I was not even aware that there were any facist elements in Japan during WW2. But the menuki (that are not menuki) unvealed this. Now would it make sense that someone from the "Taisei Yokusankai" would be in posession of a blade with a Mei of Sagami(no)kuni Yukimitsu? It seems more probable that an enlisted man.

Shinsa in August will reveal all...

Hello All, they look something simular to the manchura railway emblom, not quite sure but if you look throught the book

SWORDS OF IMPERAL Japan the section on occupation swords will hopefully be of some help.

Regards Hamish