Odd Japanese Tag

[byBen]

Hello guys,
Just found this yesterday again in my "Research further" box under my desk... I did Pick this up on ebay a good year ago? for just a couple bucks, its likely just a little tag for a key or luggage but anyway would be curios what you guys can make of it... I tried to include the pictures as best as possible.

Best Regards and Happy New year to everybody, hope we all get Killer deals this year
- Ben

[SHEMP H]

Ben, the kanji in the middle of the first two photos are top to bottom 2,6 and 8

Bill

[tomp]

Ben,
It is one of the tag variants used by NKKK. See link:Nan'yō Kōhatsu - Wikipedia

Tom

[ghp95134]

I couldn't have transcribed the company name without Tom's input -- thanks Tom!

二年契約 2-Year Contract
二六八 268
十四年期 14th Fiscal Year
=======
南洋興発株式会社
Nan'yō Kōhatsu Kabushikigaisha

[ghp95134]

Re 年期 [nenki]. I just checked the dictionary .... nenki can also mean an apprentice's obligation term. However, the other edge of the tag says "two year contract;" so I'm inclined to think this merely means the fiscal year.

It could also mean [Showa] 14 year period. Showa 14 = 1939.

What do you think, Tom??

[tomp]

Thanks for that, Guy. I think this is only the third such tag I have seen from NKKK with stamped contract info like that, and have not delved into it, but what you say does make sense. These are interesting tags, I wish more was known about them.


Tom

[byBen]

Bill, Tom, Guy
You guys are quick wow thank you so much for your help, so this a tag to one of the 50.000 workers they had in micronesia, who signed up for a 2 year contact. Thats pretty cool im happy with that.