Japanese Hinomaru Yosegaki Flag -Real or Fake? Needing Translation

[godzilla2007]

Hello,

I'm new to the forum and this is my first post. I was hoping someone could give their opinion on this flag...does it appear to be an authentic hinomaru yosegaki or a fake? Also, It would be greatly appreciated if someone could translate the Kanji. I've included a front and back photo of the flag and a corner tie.

Thanks

[MAP]

Welcome to the forum. Someone should be around shortly. We have some very talented members here who are well versed with these items.

[Geoff Ward]

Interesting flag I am curious about this Kanji on the lower right side of the flag??? in particular the two " S S" ? Characters are those characters Kanji?


Regards,Geoff

[Nick Komiya]

It looks good to me. It is a Yosegaki flag presented to Takeo Ishibashi as he joined the navy. Those who cannot see that it's navy should read this Kamikaze Course on Self Defense Japanese

The SS part says "SS born". Never seen that before, but it most likely means born on the 3rd Year of Showa (Showa San Nen), the right age to go to war towards the end.

It is full of slogans, of which I will only explain the main one on top saying 動中静, meaning tranquility within movement, a phrase often used in martial arts. It means one must remain calm even in action to anticipate and block the opponent's move. First time I see that on a flag, but it is a common phrase in Kendo (The Way of the Sword) as in the photo below commemorating someone's ascension to the 8th Dan .

[godzilla2007]

WOW! You guys are great! Thank you for your translating and evaluation of Mr. Takeo Ishibashi's Yosegaki flag... of which i'm the caretaker. Yes, the SS threw me off and stood out right away as I have never seen that on a Yosegaki flag before (it is partly why I thought it may be a fake). Showa San Nen makes perfect sense now.

I have a few more Yosegaki flags (one of which is from a Vice Admiral named Moizumi Shinichi -Moizumi commanded 4 Base Force at Truk when war broke out..He was also a former commander of the Maya and Akagi and a member of the Navy General Staff.) I will post photos soon and would welcome your expertise with that particular flag and translation. Hopefully, you can confirm the information I was told and also that the flag is legit.

Regards

[godzilla2007]

I was told this Yosegaki Flag was given to a soldier from Vice Admiral named Moizumi Shinichi. I was hoping this information could be confirmed and that this flag is a legit Yosegaki. Any translation and opinions are very much appreciated. I have had this flag framed and it is currently wrapped in plastic to keep safe in storage -I have included photos of it prior to framing too. Thanks

Background on Moizumi Shinichi (1888-1969)
Moizumi commanded 4 Base Force at Truk when war broke out.

Service record
1888-4-5 born
1909-11-19
Midshipman Graduates from Naval Academy, standing 110th in a class of 179. Assigned to CL Aso
1910-7-16 BC Tsukuba
1911-2-27 Ensign
1911-4-20 CL Akashi
1912-8-9 Gunnery School Basic Course
1912-12-1 Lieutenant junior grade

1912-12-20 Torpedo School Basic Course
1913-5-24 CL Aso
1914-3-23 Torpedo Boat Division 12
1915-3-1 CL Yamato
1916-2-25 CL Aso
1916-12-1 Lieutenant Naval College B-Course
1917-5-1 Naval College Majored Course
1917-12-1 AP Takasaki
1918-12-1 CL Hirado
1919-12-1 3 Naval District
1920-6-1 CL Tama
1921-1-31 Instructor, Naval Academy
1922-12-1 Lieutenant commander

1923-6-1 CL Asama
1924-5-10 CL Iwate
1924-12-1 BB Fuji
1925-11-10 CL Kasuga
1926-12-1 Commander
1928-12-10 Instructor, CL Kasuga
1931-12-1 Captain Commander, CL Yodo
1932-12-1 Chief, S1, Naval Hydrography Command
1935-10-28 Commander, CA Maya
1937-1-15 Trip to Europe, United States
1937-8-27 Commander, CV Akagi
1937-12-1 Rear admiral
Schoomaster, Navigator School
1940-11-15 Navy General Staff
1941-4-10 Commander, 5 Base Unit
1941-8-11 Commander, 4 Base Unit
1941-10-15 Vice admiral

1942-6-15 Navy General Staff
1942-8-25 Awaiting assignment
1942-9-1
Retires
1969-11-26 Dies

[ghp95134]

Nice flag!

The flag was presented to Mr. Ueda Kiyoshi.

為植田靖君
For Mr. Ueda Kiyoshi
靖 can also be pronounced Yasushi/Mamoru

社長海軍中将茂泉慎一
Company President, Vice Admiral Moizumi Shin'ichi

The IJN placed vice admirals as company presidents in many areas of shipbuilding, etc. In this case, Moizumi was the president of

東北船渠鉄工株式会社社長
Tohoku Docking Ironworks Co., Ltd. President

Ueda Kiyoshi was apparently a valued employee -- I doubt vice admirals wrote yosegaki flags for just anybody.

The flag would be post-1941. Moizumi was the company's first president:

昭和16年（1941）に太平洋戦争が始まり、
経済統制は強化され、物資不足によって商取引は不
活発となり、価格は上昇した。こうしたもとで新た
に商工経済会法が策定され仙台商工会議所は解散、
代わって宮城県商工経済会が設立され、初代会頭に
東北船渠鉄工株式会社社長･海軍中将茂泉慎一が就
任した。茂泉は大崎市の生まれ、日米戦争に反対し
て左遷され、この職にあったといわれる。

Source

Hoping Nick will clean up my errors!


--Guy

[Nick Komiya]

Two corrections to make.
The name of the owner of the flag would normally be read as Ueda Yasushi.
Secondly what Moizumi became in 1941 was the head of the new Chamber of Commerce. The company he was president of was actually started in 1938. This company still exists today as Tohoku Dock Steel Co since 1987. ??????????? It was said that Moizumi was against the war with the USA and was therefore put in the president's post as a demotion from the Navy.

[godzilla2007]

I love this forum! You guys are so quick with replies and include great (specific) information. Thanks Nick and Guy! I just joined and became a WRF Club member!

Very interesting, it was possibly noted, that Moizumi was against the war with the U.S. and was therefore put in the president's post as a demotion from the Navy. That is something that I have not read\heard about too many men of Moizumi Shinichi's military status opposing the war openly enough to become demoted. A very interesting piece of historic info!

As Guy said, Ueda Yasushi must have been a valued employee for Moizumi to gift this flag to him. I tried to find info regarding Mr. Ueda Yasushi but as I expected it would be next to impossible at least from online searches in english only.

[MAP]

Thanks for signing up. $25 for priceless infirmation is a bargain and will help keep the forum up and running.