Soshu Workshop - Collection guide for novice enthusiasts of Imperial Japanese Army uniforms and gears.

Hinomaru Ring and Sword Hanger Belt

This time, I’d like to introduce the Hinomaru Ring and Sword Hanger Belt used by soldiers authorized to carry swords, specifically those who were classified as sword-bearing enlisted personnel. Among non-commissioned officers and enlisted men, the following types were typically permitted to carry swords: Cavalry NCOs and enlisted men (from Private Second Class upward) Transport Troops NCOs and enlisted men (from Private Second Class upward) Military Police NCOs and enlisted men (from Private First Class upward) Infantry NCOs assigned to regimental or battalion headquarters Senior NCOs at the rank of Sergeant Major (Sōchō) However, there are numerous examples of NCOs…

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June 18th, 2025

Clothing / Field Gears

LMG Cleaning Kit Pouch

In this post, I’d like to introduce the cleaning kit pouch carried by the No.1 gunner—the shooter responsible for the light machine gun—in a light machine gun team equipped with either the Type 96 or Type 99 Light Machine Gun. We’ll take a look at an authentic example of the pouch, a reproduction made by Nakata Shōten, and finally, the process of crafting my own replica based on an original. If you're interested in Japanese WWII gear or looking to improve your reproduction accuracy, I hope you'll find this useful. The gunner operating the Type 96 or Type 99 Light…

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May 24th, 2025

Clothing / Field Gears

Type 30 Ammunition Pouch (S&Graf)

This time, I'd like to introduce an ammunition pouch made by S&Graf and discuss its restoration. The restoration process may be somewhat challenging, but being able to handle such work can be helpful when repairing damaged authentic items. Here is the item sold by S&Graf as an early model Type 30 Ammunition Pouch. This particular pouch has a unique feature: as shown in the second photo, there is only one stitch line in the center of the front pouch. This stitch line secures the internal divider of the ammunition pouch. Pouches with only one stitch line like this are said…

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May 12th, 2025

Example of Attire

Military Police(Type 98 Summer Tunic)

This is an example of a military police non-commissioned officer wearing the Type 98 Summer Tunic. In the case of the Japanese Army, the lowest rank for military police is Senior Private, so care must be taken when recreating this. To become a military police officer, one had to apply to and graduate from the Military Police School (Kenpeitai Training Unit) after serving in a general branch of the military. As of 1943 (Showa 18), it took approximately six months of training to become a Military Police Senior Private and about one year of education to become a Military Police…

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April 24th, 2025

Clothing / Field Gears

Type 5 Canteen

The Type 5 Canteen was used by non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army. Contemporary primary sources refer to it as the "New Model Canteen." While the older tokkuri-shaped canteen had a capacity of 0.6 liters, the Type 5 Canteen was designed to hold 1 liter. It is said that variations in the stopper and strap cord were distinguished using terms such as Kō (甲), Otsu (乙), and Hei (丙), or alternatively, I-gō (伊号), Ro-gō (呂号), and Ha-gō (波号). However, I have not been able to locate any original historical sources that explicitly describe these classifications. The minor…

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February 5th, 2025

Clothing / Field Gears / Weapons

Scabbard Cover for Type 95 Sword

The Type 95 sword was a regulation-issue military sword used by non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army who were required to wear swords, such as cavalry, military police and transport corps. Although I don’t own an original Type 95 sword, I do have a replica made by PK Militaria. Even as a replica, it is quite expensive. After wearing it during outdoor games, the scabbard ended up covered in scratches. I had always thought it would be nice if there were a cover for the scabbard. While researching primary sources, I discovered that scabbard covers actually existed.…

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January 7th, 2025

Weapons

The Modification of the Type 30 Bayonet with a Windlass

This time, I'm focusing on modifying the Windlass-made Type 30 bayonet. Windlass' Type 30 bayonets are relatively easy to acquire, and since the blade is made of non-ferrous metal1, they are safe and convenient for regular military reenactment activities. However, there are some slightly disappointing aspects to them. In particular, I’ll be correcting the most noticeable issue—the shape of the scabbard. The most attention-grabbing feature is the round lump at the tip. Authentic bayonet scabbards come in several variations, including those with a sleek tip and others, like this one, with a round lump. However, the problem here is that…

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December 14th, 2024