War Museum X. [Conclusion]

This is coolbert:

* A senninbari.

Thanks here for the translation by Miyoko Schook - - "Good Luck on Going into the Service."

[translation from the senninbari on exhibit!]

A sash worn by Japanese military personnel during World War Two [WW2]. Worn around the waist, similar to a cummerbund, UNDER the uniform. Casually called a "belly warmer" or "1,000 stitch belt" by American troops.

"the senninbari, a red sash made with 1,000 stitches and worn around the waist under the uniform. The senninbari was to provide good luck and courage to those who wore it."

[I do not recall this particular senninbari as being RED!!]

"Senninbari was Japanese for Thousand-person-stitches, a charm belt more commonly known in the west as the "Thousand Stitch Belt" . . . As a part of the Shinto culture of Imperial Japan, Japanese women created these senninbari for their men. These belts were believed to confer courage, good luck and immunity from injury (especially bullets) upon their wearers. These women had to be the man's mother, sister or wife, if married. These women stood near their local temple and asked any female passerby to sew in a French knot stitch with red thread as red was considered an auspicious colour. Women born in the "year of the tiger " could sew in 12 stitches (or as much as the women's age) . . .The Senninbari were usually made as belts but could also be made as hachimaki or headbands, vests, and caps . . . The most common slogan was bu-un cho-kyu for "eternal good luck in war". The belts were worn under the uniforms of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy."

Was an item of religious devotion and significance AND group [the Japanese "race"] solidarity.

The provenance of this particular senninbari has been established. This is an authentic item that once did belong to soldier of Nippon! Taken off the body of a dead Japanese soldier from WW2?

"prov·e·nance –noun- place or source of origin"

coolbert.