Posted on Jul 29, 2023
A WWII Japanese soldier's 'good luck flag' is returned to his family from U.S. museum
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https://www.npr.org/2023/07/29/ [login to see] /japan-soldier-flag-world-war-ii-returned
Toshihiro Mutsuda was only 5 years old when he last saw his father, who was drafted by Japan's Imperial Army in 1943 and killed in action. For him, his father was a bespectacled man in an old family photo standing by a signed good-luck flag that he carried to war.
On Saturday, when the flag was returned to him from a U.S. war museum where it had been on display for 29 years, Mutsuda, now 83, said: "It's a miracle."
The flag, known as "Yosegaki Hinomaru," or Good Luck Flag, carries the soldier's name, Shigeyoshi Mutsuda, and the signatures of his relatives, friends and neighbors wishing him luck. It was given to him before he was drafted by the Army. His family was later told he died in Saipan, but his remains were never returned.
Toshihiro Mutsuda was only 5 years old when he last saw his father, who was drafted by Japan's Imperial Army in 1943 and killed in action. For him, his father was a bespectacled man in an old family photo standing by a signed good-luck flag that he carried to war.
On Saturday, when the flag was returned to him from a U.S. war museum where it had been on display for 29 years, Mutsuda, now 83, said: "It's a miracle."
The flag, known as "Yosegaki Hinomaru," or Good Luck Flag, carries the soldier's name, Shigeyoshi Mutsuda, and the signatures of his relatives, friends and neighbors wishing him luck. It was given to him before he was drafted by the Army. His family was later told he died in Saipan, but his remains were never returned.
A WWII Japanese soldier's 'good luck flag' is returned to his family from U.S. museum
Posted from npr.org
WWII World War Two
Japan
Museums
Family
Saipan
Posted 10 mo ago
Responses: 2
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."
The flag was donated in 1994 and displayed at the museum aboard the USS Lexington, a WWII aircraft carrier, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Its meaning was not known until it was identified by the family earlier this year, said the museum director Steve Banta, who brought the flag to Tokyo."...
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The flag was donated in 1994 and displayed at the museum aboard the USS Lexington, a WWII aircraft carrier, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Its meaning was not known until it was identified by the family earlier this year, said the museum director Steve Banta, who brought the flag to Tokyo."...
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This is a colorized picture of a World War II picture I saw before with US Marines exhausted after a long battle with the Japanese.
I am not sure if these are also Good Luck Flags
I am not sure if these are also Good Luck Flags
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
LTC (Join to see) I Don't think So, I See No Names or Prayers Written On It!
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LTC (Join to see)
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel it also isn't the Rising Sun either. But look at the face the thousand yard stare are those shell shocked and tired Marines!
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