NEED HELP Japanese flag

[navycollector]

Hi,
Would appreciate if someone could tell me what this flag was for. It measures 38 and a half x 28. Double sided. Fringes on three sides.

[ghp95134]

三陽青年隊
SANYO Seinen-Tai
SANYO Youth Battalion/Group

I do not know if this group is associated with the corporation known today as SANYO, but it is the same 三陽 [SanYo] kanji.

--Guy

[navycollector]

Thanks Guy,
Yeah I have no idea. Its old and asuming its ww2 era? I need to do more research on SanYo..Kanji

[ghp95134]

Thanks Guy,
Yeah I have no idea. Its old and asuming its ww2 era? I need to do more research on SanYo..Kanji

Definitely pre-1945. The Seinen-Tai were Youth Groups and not necessarily military in nature. What I mean by "SanYo...Kanji" is that the kanji 三陽 spells out SANYO and I'd bet a dollar to a doughnut it's the same SANYO Corp. today. Probably something like the "SANYO Youth Corps" -- organized and administered by the Sanyo Corp.

--Guy

[navycollector]

Thanks again,
Could this youth group be something like the german Hitler Youth?I appreciate the info

[ghp95134]

Thanks again,
Could this youth group be something like the german Hitler Youth?I appreciate the info

Kinda sorta. I'm no expert ... when looking up 青年隊 I invariably get the result ヒトラー青年隊 [Hitoraa Seinen-Tai: Hiltler Youth Corps]. However, it seems the Japanese analogue to the HJ was the 大日本青年党 Dai-Nippon Seinen-tō.

I'm guessing the Seinen-tai were more like Boy Scouts than "HJ".

--Guy

[navycollector]

O.K. Thanks again,

Jason

[Alan M]

Hi Jason , it interests me that the flag bears the image of the Golden Kite , which is the Emblem used in the Japanese military bravery awards of the seven classes of the Order of the Golden Kite , so its possible it could have military connotations .

[ghp95134]

Well, since this is the SANYO Corporation, I do not think there is a military connection. The Greater Japanese Aviation Youth Corps had an eagle on its flag ... but that was an aviation-related corps:

source

I've seen other flags with an eagle similar to yours .... but "Murphy's Law" prevails -- I cannot find a single image after a loooooong search!
I'm sticking to this being an industry-run youth corps.

--Guy

[Alan M]

Hey Guy , sorry for the late reply , i've been away . Thanks for the translation of the flag and posting that link , as it sort of meets with what i was thinking ( it being a Cadet Corps banner ) . Over here in Britain , we have cadet groups for the Army , Navy and Air Force and although they are not directly linked to the military ( that you can be called up for military service ) these groups are sponsored by by the Senior Forces and wear uniforms to reflect the same . When i mentioned "military" i was thinking in the youth corps sense . Perhaps this was a similar system sponsored by Sanyo . I really like the banner though