Senninbari ( thousand stitch belt )

**Alan M** · 09-08-2011, 07:35 PM

I got this a while ago , this item would have been tied around a Japanese serviceman`s waist for good luck , they also sometimes had amulets and locks of loved ones hair sewn into them . Unfortunately someone had previously washed this one and some of the colour has faded a bit

but it is still a nice piece . The design of the stitching is in the shape of a Tiger , an iconic animal that is renowned for being able to wander far from home but is always able to find it`s way home again . Tom , could you please have a look at the Kanji please

Alan

**Alan M** · 09-08-2011, 07:41 PM

more

**Alan M** · 09-08-2011, 07:45 PM

two more ,

**tmys** · 09-09-2011, 12:30 AM

Alan,

(The three characters on the left ((I assume there are only three)) are the name) OHBAYASHI Sada(o) (Japanese names are subject to the literary license of parents who pronounce names anyway they want and many times only the family and friends really know how to read the name. Therefore the phonetic reading has to be entered on the family register since Japan does not use birth certificates.)

(Right column) Cho Unit 26 (The Cho stands for morning and is also the first character for Chosen (Korea) but it could very well be the first character of the unit's name or its commander. For example, detachments were usually named after their commanders or the area they were to operate in.)

Tom