Own a Piece of History. This is an original non-commercial commemorative photo album titled. “1928 Fourth-Class Sailor Training Completion Memorial – Yokosuka Naval Training Corps”. Published in October 1928 (Showa 3). “Yokosuka Naval Training Corps Fourth-Class Sailor Memorial Album Committee, “. At the beginning of the album appears a portrait of. Who served as commander of the Yokosuka Naval Training Corps at the time. Mitsuya Shirou was an Imperial Japanese Navy officer who served aboard major warships including. Battleship Nagato (Vice Captain). Before becoming commander of Yokosuka Naval Training Corps. This gives the album a strong official and historical character rather than being merely a personal scrapbook. The back cover contains a handwritten ownership inscription. “Nakagaki Tadashi – Owner”. Believed to be the original sailor who actually trained at Yokosuka Naval Training Corps. These personal traces are highly valued among collectors because they connect the artifact directly to an individual sailor’s life. This is not simply a military photo album. It is a surviving personal relic from a young Japanese sailor before the Pacific War. Large military formation photographs. Officer and instructor portraits. Military songs and speeches. Rising Sun naval flag imagery. And many other fascinating scenes from early Showa-era Imperial Japanese Navy training life. What Was the Yokosuka Naval Training Corps? The Yokosuka Naval Training Corps was one of the most important training centers of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Young recruits from across Japan were sent here to receive. Before assignment to fleets and warships. This album captures the atmosphere of the Imperial Japanese Navy before the outbreak of the Pacific War. Why Is This Rare? Imperial Japanese Navy materials are significantly rarer than Army items today due to. Destruction of fleets during WWII. Postwar dismantling of the Navy. Limited survival of naval training materials. Albums from naval training corps were usually privately distributed to participants only. Making surviving copies extremely scarce. This example is especially desirable because it includes. Yokosuka Naval Training Corps connection. Captain Mitsuya Shirou portrait. Original handwritten owner identification. Together, these elements create a highly personal and historically important artifact. Used vintage condition with age wear, stains, foxing, scratches, and minor damage. Handwritten ownership inscription on rear cover. 15.2 × 21.6 cm. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
WWII Imperial Japanese Army Transport Troops Photo Album. 6th Division – 1934 (Showa 9). This original commemorative photo album was issued in 1934 for members of the. 6, 1st Company (Special Service Personnel). Of the Imperial Japanese Army. The opening pages include a portrait of Lieutenant General Sakaemon Sakamoto, commander of the 6th Division at the time. The 6th Division was one of the most famous divisions of the Imperial Japanese Army. Originally formed in Kumamoto in 1888, the division participated in numerous major conflicts including. The division later fought in China and ultimately in the Solomon Islands, where many of its soldiers suffered severe losses from starvation and disease after supply lines collapsed. What Makes This Album Unusual. Unlike most surviving Imperial Japanese Army photo albums, which focus on infantry units, this album documents a transport and logistics unit. The Imperial Japanese Army is widely known for placing relatively limited emphasis on logistics compared with other major armies of the period. As a result, surviving materials related to transport troops (Shichohei) are considerably less common than infantry-related items. This album provides a rare visual record of the soldiers responsible for moving food, ammunition, medical supplies, and equipment to the front lines. Roll calls and inspections. Horse grooming and care. Group photographs of personnel. Particularly noteworthy are the numerous photographs showing military horses, transport wagons, and logistical training activities. These images provide valuable insight into a rarely documented branch of the Japanese Army. The album captures military life during the relatively peaceful years between the Manchurian Incident and the outbreak of full-scale war in China. Imperial Japanese Army history. Logistics and supply operations. Rare unit photo albums. Shows age-related wear, staining, and storage marks consistent with age. Please examine all photographs carefully for condition details. A fascinating historical record documenting the often-overlooked soldiers who kept the Imperial Japanese Army moving. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
1935 Japanese Sword Exhibition Catalog (Meito Zufu). This is an original 1935 (Showa 10) Japanese sword reference book titled. “Meito Zufu” (Illustrated Catalog of Famous Japanese Swords). The book was published in conjunction with a major sword exhibition held at. Takashimaya Department Store in Tokyo. One of Japan’s most prestigious department stores during the prewar era. The catalog was compiled by. Who would later become one of the most influential scholars in the field of Japanese sword studies. Rather than being a simple exhibition guide, this work serves as a serious photographic reference documenting many famous historical Japanese swords using the advanced photographic techniques available at the time. Featured smiths and blades include examples attributed to renowned masters such as. And other celebrated swordsmiths whose works are considered important within Japanese sword history. Published in September 1935, this book reflects a period when interest in Japanese sword appreciation and preservation was rapidly growing throughout Japan. In the introduction, Honma Junji explains the purpose of using modern photography to accurately preserve and present the beauty and characteristics of famous blades. As a result, this volume is not only a sword catalog but also an important historical document representing prewar Japanese sword scholarship and collecting culture. For collectors of samurai swords, Japanese militaria, and prewar Japanese publications, it offers a fascinating glimpse into how important swords were studied and exhibited nearly a century ago. Spine shows significant wear and old repairs. Age-related stains, discoloration, foxing, and wear are present. Interior pages and photographic plates remain largely intact and readable. Please examine all photographs carefully before purchasing. Are increasingly difficult to find, particularly those connected to prewar sword exhibitions. This book documents the Japanese sword world before World War II and preserves photographs and information that were originally intended for serious collectors and enthusiasts of the era. A fascinating piece of Japanese sword history. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
Own a Piece of History. This is an original 1928 (Showa 3) “North China Garrison Commemorative” photo album created by the Japanese Tianjin Resident Association during the turbulent years before the Manchurian Incident and the full-scale Sino-Japanese War. Far more than a simple military album, this book documents the world of the Japanese community living in Tianjin, China, alongside the activities of the Imperial Japanese Army’s North China Garrison forces. What was the Tianjin Resident Association? The Tianjin Resident Association (Tianjin Kyoryumin-dan) was the governing organization of the Japanese settlement in Tianjin, China. At the time, many Japanese civilians lived in Tianjin, including. The association managed the Japanese community and worked closely with the Japanese military presence in North China. This makes the album historically important not only as a military record, but also as documentation of Imperial Japan’s overseas civilian society in China during the 1920s. What was the North China Garrison Army? The North China Garrison Army (China Garrison Army) was a permanent Japanese military force stationed in northern China after the Boxer Rebellion. Guarding railways and strategic interests. Maintaining influence in North China. The force later became one of the foundations of Japan’s expansion into China before the Second Sino-Japanese War. A rare “pre-war empire” historical document. One of the most fascinating aspects of this album is its connection to the political instability surrounding the assassination of Zhang Zuolin (Huanggutun Incident). Photographs of officers and garrison troops. Local Chinese street life. North China cultural scenes. The opening text discusses. Fear among Japanese residents. Deployment of Japanese troops. Worsening instability in North China. This gives the album an unusually raw “before the storm” atmosphere. Rather than documenting the war itself, it captures the fragile period just before Japan’s full expansion into China. The book includes personnel listings for members of the China Garrison Army, including. Colonel Washizu Enpei later promoted to Lt. Colonel Furushiro Taneshu later promoted to Lt. These names add additional historical significance for collectors and researchers. Why is this rare? Most surviving Japanese military albums from China date from after 1937, during the full-scale Sino-Japanese War. This album predates that era. Materials specifically tied to. Japanese civilian settlements in Tianjin. The North China Garrison Army. The Zhang Zuolin assassination period. Pre-Manchurian Incident North China. Are significantly harder to find today. Even rarer are examples that still contain. Political atmosphere of 1928 North China. This is essentially a surviving snapshot of Imperial Japan’s presence in North China before the collapse into full war. 19 × 13 cm. Shows age-related wear including stains, discoloration, scratches, creases, and minor damage consistent with age. Please check all photos carefully. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
Published in 1930 (Showa 5), this is a rare pre-war Japanese proletarian literature book titled. Army Disease (Gun Tai Byo). The book was published by Senkisha and marked as part of the “Japan Proletarian Writers League” series. As the name suggests, the Japan Proletarian Writers League was a communist-oriented writers’ organization that promoted anti-war and anti-military ideas during the early Showa period. This work focuses on themes such as. Psychological pressure inside the army. Poverty in rural farming communities. Exhaustion and suffering of soldiers. At the time, these themes were considered socially and politically sensitive. What makes this book especially important is its publication date. It was printed in 1930, before the Manchurian Incident (1931), during a brief period before militarism rapidly expanded across Japan. In the years that followed, anti-war thought and criticism of the military were increasingly suppressed, and many left-wing organizations and writers became targets under the Peace Preservation Laws. Because of this historical background, surviving publications like this are now quite scarce. Rather than just an old book, this is a surviving historical artifact from a period when alternative political and social ideas still openly existed in prewar Japan. The cover artwork is also striking, showing an exhausted soldier and rural imagery rather than heroic military propaganda imagery commonly seen in wartime publications. Printed: November 25, 1929. Fifth Edition Published: January 15, 1930. Showing that the book already had a readership at the time. An excellent item for collectors interested in. Communist / proletarian movements. Heavy age wear, stains, creases, edge wear, and paper aging consistent with its age of nearly 100 years. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
Original Pre-WW2 Imperial Japanese Navy poster featuring the light cruiser KINU (Nagara-class). Printed in the early Showa period, this piece includes a portrait of. Symbol of the Imperial Household. Large format and rare surviving example of naval promotional or commemorative prints from the 1930s. About the Cruiser KINU. She served extensively throughout the Pacific. Philippine invasion operations (1941). Dutch East Indies operations (1942). Guadalcanal “Tokyo Express” transport missions. Numerous escort and supply operations in New Guinea and the Bismarck Sea. Sunk in October 1944. During the Leyte Gulf operations. A warship known for its wide operational range and heavy wartime service. Portrait of Emperor Hirohito, gold Chrysanthemum Seal. Creases, age toning, minor stains. 380 × 296 mm. A valuable display piece for collectors of Imperial Japanese Navy history, warship memorabilia, and pre-WW2 prints. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
Thank you for visiting. This is a fascinating commemorative medal related to the Imperial Japanese Navy and Admiral Heihachiro Togo, one of the most famous naval commanders in Japanese history. The front features a detailed relief portrait of Admiral Togo, surrounded by the name “Mikasa, ” the legendary battleship that served as his flagship during the Russo-Japanese War. The reverse side bears the famous phrase. The fate of the Empire depends upon this battle. This was the historic signal associated with the Battle of Tsushima in 1905, one of the most decisive naval victories of the modern era. The medal also includes the inscription. “Presented by Toho News Agency”. This detail is particularly important historically. Toho News Agency was a real prewar Japanese media and communications organization, and the use of the word “Presented” strongly suggests this was an actual commemorative distribution item from the prewar or wartime period, rather than a modern tourist reproduction. It may have been created for. Russo-Japanese War memorial activities. Imperial Japanese Navy promotion. The design itself also strongly reflects prewar Japanese military aesthetics, including. Porthole-like border inspired by battleship imagery. Heavy military-style relief portrait. Symbolic Imperial Navy slogan. Admiral Togo remains internationally famous even today and is sometimes referred to as. The Nelson of the East. The Battle of Tsushima is still studied worldwide as one of the most significant naval battles in history, making artifacts related to Togo and Mikasa highly desirable among naval historians and militaria collectors. This is not simply a medal. It is a surviving piece of Imperial Japanese naval mythology and national memory. 7.1 cm width. Condition shows age and use, including. Please carefully review all photographs for condition details. Only the items shown in the photographs are included. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
Rare pre-WWII Imperial Japanese Army “Zaiei Kinen” (Active Service Commemorative) photo album related to the 73rd Infantry Regiment. The cover features the red infantry branch collar insignia design with the number “73” and the words “Zaiei Kinen” (In Service Memorial). In the Imperial Japanese Army, red was the branch color of infantry units, and “73” generally refers to the 73rd Infantry Regiment. The 73rd Infantry Regiment was established in 1916 and stationed in Ranam, northern Korea, under the 19th Division. The regiment later participated in. The Battle of Lake Khasan. The Second Sino-Japanese War. WWII campaigns in the Philippines. And eventually ended the war in northern Luzon, Philippines. This album appears to date from around 1933 (Showa 8), shortly after the establishment of Manchukuo. The contents include many identified locations and captions such as. Mobilization / deployment status chart. The album contains approximately 41 photographs (various sizes), including. Horses and cavalry transport. Military facilities and guard posts. Mortar or artillery-related equipment. Korean and Manchurian local life. Public performances and gatherings. Rare operational deployment chart. What makes this album especially interesting is that it is not merely a military souvenir album. It documents daily life and military presence along the unstable frontier regions of Korea, Manchuria, and northern China during the early expansion period of the Japanese Empire. The included “deployment status chart” gives the album additional historical and archival significance. This is the kind of material that appeals not only to militaria collectors, but also researchers of. Some pages missing photographs. One deployment chart has tears. Please check the photos carefully for condition details. A powerful and atmospheric historical album from the forgotten frontiers of the Japanese Empire. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
This is an original WWII Imperial Japanese “Discharge Commemorative” lacquer tray from the Manchuria Independent Garrison Unit. 30.5 × 21.5 cm. The tray features the Japanese national flag, the flag of Manchukuo, a military helmet, cherry blossoms, and crossed rifles. The center inscription reads. “Manchuria Independent Garrison Unit”. The Manchuria Independent Garrison Unit was a highly important military force responsible for protecting the South Manchuria Railway (Mantetsu), railway stations, bridges, and strategic facilities throughout Manchukuo. These troops were deeply connected to Japan’s control over Manchuria and served on the front line of the Japanese Empire’s continental expansion policy. During the 1930s-1945 period, they carried out security operations, anti-guerrilla activities, and military patrols across Manchuria. When the Soviet invasion of Manchuria began in August 1945, many of these units were overwhelmed and effectively disappeared during the collapse of Japanese control in the region. Because of this history, authentic artifacts related to the Manchuria Independent Garrison Unit are extremely scarce today. Especially rare are personalized discharge commemorative items like this example, which were privately owned rather than mass-issued military equipment. This is unquestionably a genuine wartime item. One particularly fascinating feature is the combination of the Japanese flag and the Manchukuo flag displayed side by side. This reflects the wartime ideology of “Japan-Manchukuo unity” and strongly captures the atmosphere of Imperial Japan’s presence in Manchuria. The reverse side bears the name “Yano” , which was likely the original owner – possibly the actual soldier who completed his military service and brought this tray home after serving in Manchuria. That personal connection gives the piece far more emotional and historical depth than an ordinary military souvenir. The tray itself is also a fine example of traditional Japanese lacquer craftsmanship. Even during wartime, Japanese commemorative objects often combined military symbolism with refined decorative artistry, and this piece beautifully reflects that tradition. Military helmet, cherry blossoms, Imperial Japanese flag, Manchukuo flag. This tray preserves the atmosphere of a vanished empire. Artifacts related to Manchukuo, Mantetsu, and Imperial Japanese occupation history have become increasingly sought after among international collectors in recent years. Shows age, scratches, lacquer wear, and signs of use consistent with age. Please check all photos carefully. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
Offered here is an original. Kure Naval Training Corps commemorative photo album. Documenting recruits who entered service in. June 1937 (Showa 12). This album begins with highly significant introductory pages featuring a portrait of. Vice Admiral Takayoshi Kato. Then Commander-in-Chief of the. (later promoted to full Admiral), along with the famous. Five Articles for Military Personnel. Reflecting the discipline, values, and ideology expected of Imperial Japanese servicemen. It is far more than a simple graduation album. The following pages contain numerous original photographs showing the real training life of new sailors at the Kure Naval Training Corps, including. Cutter / rowing boat exercises. Formation drills and physical training. Mess hall scenes and daily life. Inspections and barracks discipline. Group portraits and base surroundings. Kure Naval Training Corps. Was one of the most important recruit training centers of the Imperial Japanese Navy, supporting the powerful Kure Naval District. Is especially important, as it marks the outbreak of the. And the rapid expansion of Japan’s wartime military system. This album captures the moment when ordinary young men were being transformed into wartime sailors. Original binding cord missing. Inner hinge repaired with glue. Child scribbles on reverse of 2-3 pages. About two caption tissue pages missing. Despite condition flaws, the historical and visual value remains very strong. This is an excellent primary-source piece for collectors of naval militaria, pre-war Japan, or military training history. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.