Japanese flag

Japanese flag captured by the 2nd Battalion during the Burma campaign, 1944-5. It is made from cream-coloured linen with a coarsely-woven red backing and border. In the centre, a large Japanese character has been painted inside a black circle. In the bottom left corner is a smaller character beneath the number 47. There are rust-coloured stains peppered throughout the fabric, including four large rust stains in the corners of the pale linen where the flag has been nailed to a surface. It is probably a 'hinomaru yosegaki' – a national flag signed by friends and family, often featuring short messages wishing them victory and good luck. These good luck flags were commonly carried by Japanese soldiers.