Japanese tropical helmet

[Tinhat]

Very happy this week, my newly won early pattern Japanese tropical sun helmet arrived. I got it in an online auction for the princely sum of $50, way below the price I was prepared to pay.

The wicker has collapsed slightly around the rim but apart form that it is in great condition. Dated 1940. Other examples I have seen have a brown leather liner, but this is the canvas pattern similar to the later model sun helmet.
A nice addition to my small but growing IJA headgear group.









Following this I decided to bid on some tunics which were in the same auction and picked up 3 different types. I'll post them once the weather improves so I can take pictures in natural light.
Steve.

[harryamb2]

sounds like you picked up a few bargains.

[Gunny Hartmann]

$50 wow!....

[Tinhat]

sounds like you picked up a few bargains.

Thanks, I stumbled across it listed in a Holywood memorabilia auction for some reason so I think that's it went so cheap. Interestingly it all came with a "Certificate of Authenticity" which the description is not quite accurate...

[SteveR]

That is a very good find friend.

[ghp95134]

The name looks like Nakazaki Shinji, a member of "I" Group. I do not know what the "Wall 51" means (or even if I've translated that correctly).

垣五一
Kaki [Wall] 51

イ隊
I-Tai

中崎 新次
Nakazaki Shinji

--Guy

[Tinhat]

The name looks like Nakazaki Shinji, a member of "I" Group. I do not know what the "Wall 51" means (or even if I've translated that correctly).

垣五一
Kaki [Wall] 51

イ隊
I-Tai

中崎 新次
Nakazaki Shinji

--Guy

Thanks Guy.

[Nigel Lesgate]

Is this a white helmet? Looks whitish in the shots. Col. Saito wore one with a gold metal star in David Lean's epic "Bridge on the River Kwai". I owned a very white one that had a rayon bevo weave type star on it. These helmets are incredibly light weight. Nice score!

[Stu W]

The name looks like Nakazaki Shinji, a member of "I" Group. I do not know what the "Wall 51" means (or even if I've translated that correctly).

垣五一
Kaki [Wall] 51

イ隊
I-Tai

中崎 新次
Nakazaki Shinji

--Guy

Hi Guy,

I have a dog tag from the 16th Infantry Division and their call sign was the Wall (Kaki) Division.

Regards,
Stu

[ghp95134]

Cool, Stu! Thanks.


--Guy