The Public Service bag and other bags of the Imperial Japanese Army.

[grimnar]

Inspired by MichaelB’s fantastic thread on Imonbukuro, I thought I would make a separate thread on the various officially issued bags of the Imperial Japanese Army.
Over the past few years I have gather quite a number of army issued fukuro, from the very common Public Service bag(Hokobukuro) to the small Valuables bag (Kichohinbukuro) down to the Washing up bag(Senmengubukuro) and the hard to find, Empty home remnants goods bag (留守宅殘品袋). Now that I have some spare time, I would like to share what I have with you all. I am by no means an expert but do hope I have picked up some factual information along the way. With each style of bag, I will post up some basic translations(where possible) of what they were supposed to contain and images of what they contained when I found them, from my own collection.

Please feel free to post up any additional information or examples you have, with or without contents. Also please post up mystery types or types not mentioned. I am sure there were quite a number produced for all different things, so would love to see any I do not have.



First off - The 奉公袋 Hokobukuro (Public Service bag)

The public service bag is one of the most common bags, if not the most common IJA bags found by collectors in this day and age. While a few were souvenired from the battlefield, the majority have come from Japan post war with the large influx of Japanese dealers selling on platforms like ebay. This type of bag has become quite popular with WW2 collectors.

The 'Hokobukuro' measures roughly 23cm by 33cm and can be found in a variety of colours ranging from the former defense colour（こくぼうしょく）to pale mustard yellow, down to various shades of dark green. Materials used in the construction range from cotton and linen to hemp. All issued examples have the Imperial Army's zig-zag symbol across the top of the bag, with the kanji "奉公袋" in bold down the front. A small box to the left of the centre kanji is for the owners name. On the reverse of the bag, a large box has been printed with columns of kanji outlining the official contents of the bag.

品容悛 = Contents (Goods contained)
一、軍隊手牒、勲章、記章.
- 1. Military Paybook(guntaitecho), decorations, medals/badges/insignia
ニ、適任証書、軍隊における特業教育に関する証書.
- 2. Certificates of qualifications, military specialist certificates.
三、召集及び点呼令状.
- 3. Mobilization or call-up order.
四、その他貯金通帳など応召準備、応召のために必要と認めるものを収容するように記されている .
- 4. Other things such as savings record books, etc., and things related to preparation for the draft or recognized as needed for the draft.

There are variations to the above Hoko bukuro. Most common are the bags given out by the Military Reservist Association which can be identified by the associations insignia of a star over an anchor within a crest at the top of the bag either in place of, or superimposed over the IJA zig-zag symbol. (I will cover the contents of this bag further down).





Cheers
Matt

[grimnar]

Reverse of the above bag.

[grimnar]

This example is slightly darker in colour.

Obverse.


Reverse.

[grimnar]

This example is made from a very coarse material like linen. Notice the colour is also very dark. Possible a late war piece?

Obverse.


Reverse.(Enhanced)

[grimnar]

This example contained a number of items relating to the service of Mr. Katahira who was a member of the 3rd Imperial Guard regiment. Unfortunately Mr. Katahira was killed in China in 1940. This hoko bukuro also included quite a few items relating to his enshrinement at Yasukuni.

[grimnar]

This bag belonged to Mr. Yokota, a 10th Infantry regiment soldier from Okayama prefecture. Within his hokobukuro are items associated with his Army service and his Reservist service. (Guntaitecho not pictured)
The book shown, lower right is the 1934 revision of the Veterans Knowledge manual.

[grimnar]

This next example belonged to a Mr. Nakazawa. Unfortunately I have few details as to his service. The contents on this bag includes a very well made Senninbari, a variation of the Kichohinbukuro (Valuables bags) and two diaries contained in a pair of private purchase guntaitecho covers. Interestingly Mr. Nakazawa has made his own calling cards instead of having some printed up.

[grimnar]

This example belonged to Mr. Noguchi from the Nishitama District of Tokyo. Again I have no details of his service history. The bag contains a lot of the items traditionally associated with the hokobukuro, such as savings pass book, package labels, reservist badge and medal and a small packet of cut hair.

Interestingly this bag was manufactured by a company in Osaka.

[grimnar]

The Imperial Military Reservists Association (帝國在郷軍人會) was an organization for veterans and men who were still eligible for military service after their initial service. The association was founded in 1910 to promote patriotism and military ideals as well as preparing draft age men for their military service, with branches established at the city, town, and village levels. In 1931, a total of 14,443 association chapters existed within Japan and her territories.

Members were identified by three classes, regular members, special members and honorary members each with corresponding badges. According to a survey made in 1931, regular (army) members numbered 258,1109, and special and honorary members numbered 286,845. (Rich's excellent page Dai Nippon Military Antiques Medals and Badges has many photos and information on these badges)

The Association was put under the war ministries in 1936 and was dissolved in August 1945.

With such a long history and due to it's position within local communities it is not surprising that the Reservists Association had their own type of hokobukuro, even though it served pretty much the same purpose as the official army bag. Most examples I have viewed stayed pretty true to the IJA fukuro as to size and colour, with only minor symbolic differences.



The contents of the reservist bag are virtually identical to the Army type:

1,Orders, military handbook, decorations, campaign medals, certificates of qualification, graduation certificates, certificates of study, name stamp.
2, Savings passbook
3, Wrapping cloth (furoshiki), wrapping paper, hemp cord, wooden name tag.
4, Things needed for the call-up journey or for daily use.

[grimnar]

The above Reservist Association hokobukuro belonged to a Mr. Ejima from Kyoto who served with the 4th Artillery Regiment from 1909 to 1912. His bag's contents include his army paybook and home made cover, reservist badge and various reserve association documents.