Imperial Japanese Navy - Petty Officer's Cap.
This imperial Japanese Navy petty officer's cap is a soft-cloth cap that was first made in 1937 when it was brought in as an alternative option to the more traditional naval headgear. These caps were 100% identical for every rank in the navy including everyone from officers to newly enlisted bodies and the only difference was the quality of the material that was used during the manufacturing process. This meant that the difference was hard to see with the naked eye.
Instead, the different ranks were made to stand out with white bands that wrapped around the bottom rim of the caps: officer's caps had two stripes while a single stripe, like this example, represented petty officers or non-commissioned officers and a plain cap was used for men who had been enlisted.
Originally, these caps were intended solely for use on shore by the Tokubetsu Rikusentai or the Special Naval Landing Force who were often also referred to as the Japanese Marines. During the war, members of the Tokubetsu Rikusentai were spread out throughout the fleet. The device that features on the front is a golden yellow anchor and this was identical for all of the ranks in the navy.
This cap was found in the effects of a WWII veteran, stuffed with three Japanese storage bags (ZFC3206, ZFC3207 & ZFC3208).
ZFC Noteworthy Flag
Sources:
ExordioLa Segunda Guerra Mundial (1939-1945), Rokubetsu Rikusentai - Fuerzas Navales Especiales de Desembarco, 29 August 2012, from:
http://whttp://www.exordio.com/1939-1945/militaris/fuerzas-armadas-JAP/tokubetsu-rikusentai.html
Imperial Japanese Navy, Wikipedia, 29 August 2012, from: http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Japanese_Navy
Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection
