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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

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 and military police. 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. In the…

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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

Example of Attire

Medic (Type 98 Summer Tunic / Post-Showa 18)

This is an example of the attire worn by Army Medical Department non-commissioned officers and soldiers using the Type 98 Summer Tunic. In this example, the rank is Sergeant, and the individual is wearing the Medical Department identification insignias established in Showa 18. A medic in Type 98 Summer Tunic (front view)A medic in Type 98 Summer Tunic (rear view) As explained in the article on medics wearing the Tropics 2/3 Sleeves Shirt, non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Medical Department carried bags marked with the Red Cross. The medic's bag was called a Bandage Kit (Hōtai-nō/繃帯嚢), while the medical…

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November 21st, 2024

Clothing / Field Gears

Detailing of the Type 98 Sun Hat (Late Model)

I added authentic woven star insignia to both the authentic Type 98 sun hat and the HIKISHOP replica that I introduced in my recent article. While I was at it, I also made some detailing enhancements to the HIKISHOP replica Processing the Woven Star Insignia Here is the authentic woven star insignia that I used. In my case, I happened to find it listed with an incorrect title on Yahoo Auctions, allowing me to acquire it at a low price. If you try to buy it online, each star generally costs around 3,000 to 4,000 yen. I fold this star…

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November 19th, 2024

Clothing / Personal Belongings / Uniforms

Rank insignias and identification Insignias after the Type 98

This time, I would like to introduce the changes in rank insignias and identification Insignias worn on the Type 98 military uniform established in Showa 13. When aiming to accurately reproduce past military attire, the specific year and month is an important factor. It is crucial to understand when the new regulations were implemented if one is to wear military attire according to the revised standards; otherwise, it may result in a uniform that does not actually exist. However, in the case of wearing military attire based on older regulations, it is acceptable even if it is after the new…

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November 5th, 2024

Clothing / Field Gears / For Beginners / Uniforms

Detailing Techniques Recommended for Beginners.

In this article, I’d like to introduce some detail-up techniques for military gear that even beginners can try. While it may require a bit of sewing skill, you can easily make these using materials you have on hand, so give it a shot! Collar Cloth A “collar cloth” (Eri-fu/襟布) refers to the fabric sewn onto the collar of a military uniform to prevent it from getting dirty. It’s the same concept as the collar protectors found on modern Japanese student uniforms. Military uniforms cannot be frequently laundered, so the collar cloth is removable for washing purposes. It is part of…

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October 6th, 2024