Japanese Sailor (Hinomaru Yosegaki) "Good Luck Flag", Manila, 1945.
This Good Luck Flag was inscribed to an Osaka sailor form his family and friends, including the mayor of Osaka. It was recovered from a ruined factory in Manila along with the sailor's identity tag (see ZFC2405). The Manila Naval Defense Forces, an expedient organization of Japanese sailors, marines and soldiers strove to prevent the Americans return. In the fierce fighting Manila was almost entirely destroyed.

During World War II, Japanese soldier were given flags by loved ones. The flags were often based on the Hinomura or the National Flag of Japanese. The soldiers name, the names of his family and loved ones, prayers and inpirational messages wouold be inscribed on the flag. The solidier kept the flag with him at all times.

This flag of a Japanese sailor who died in the Japanese defense of Manila in 1945, it was recovered from his body, it is inscribed by the mayor and a councilman from Osaka to him. It was recovered from the Japanese dead in the top floor of a heavily damaged factory.

Companion piece to ZFC2405, a Japanese naval dog tag

Provenance:
• Japanese Sailor Isurukioki Isunada, Manila, Philippines, 1945
• Found ruined Manila building on body by Richard Headly, May-June 1945.
• Recovered at Earl Warren Showground, Santa Barbara, by Bill Hegan, 1996.
• Gifted to Karen Zaricor, 2006.


ZFC Significant Flag