Authentic - Soshu Workshop

The shape of the HIKISHOP-made Type 90 Steel Helmet

Recently, I acquired a authentic Type 90 Steel Helmet shell. Lately, the market price for authentic Type 90 Steel Helmets has significantly risen, with clean ones equipped with liners fetching over ¥50,000 on Yahoo! Japan Auctions. What I acquired this time was just the helmet shell, missing items like the star-shaped pin to secure the liner. However, I managed to obtain it for less than ¥10,000, including shipping. Despite some rust, the photos in the listing made it seem worse than it actually was, but upon inspection, the original paint was still intact, making it a decent purchase overall. The…

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April 12th, 2024

Personal Belongings

Good Luck Flag

I would like to introduce the signed Japanese flag, known as the Good Luck Flag in English, and other related items that I acquired at the antique market. I purchased them at an auction specifically for dealers who have a license for dealing in antiques. We Japanese call it Shussei-Bata/出征旗, which means Deployment Flag. Enemy soldiers primarily obtained these flags from Japanese corpses or POW, so calling them "Good Luck Flag" feels rather ironic. In countries other than Japan, writing on the national flag can be perceived as a disrespectful act towards the flag. Therefore, it might seem strange to…

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February 10th, 2024

Clothing / Field Gears

Type 97 Sniper Rifle Scope Case

In my private collection, I have carrying cases (Shūyō-nō/収容嚢) for the Type 97 Sniper Scope (Kyūnana-shiki Sogeki Gankyō/九七式狙撃眼鏡), designed for the Type 97 sniper rifle (Kyūnana-shiki Sogeki Jū/九七式狙撃銃). As a matter of fact, I have two of them. It's not a standard piece of equipment, and originally, I had planned to introduce it at a later time. However, due to a recent opportunity, I've decided to pass one of them on to an acquaintance. With that in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to compare the two carrying cases for the sake of record-keeping, leading me to…

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January 16th, 2024

Clothing / Uniforms

S&Graf-manufactured Type 98 Summer Tunic Modification

In a previous article discussing replicas of the Type 98 Summer Tunic, I introduced S&Graf's products. While the fabric texture and overall silhouette are good, there are some disappointing aspects, making it a bit hesitant to wear as is. Therefore, I decided to create a modification by drafting a pattern from the authentic item, and I will share the details in this article. The process involved painstakingly undoing stitches and sewing anew, which took a considerable amount of time. However, the result is quite satisfying, significantly improving the overall condition. Comparison with the Authentic Item From left to right: the…

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January 4th, 2024

Clothing / Field Gears / For Beginners / Uniforms

How to Collect Imperial Japanese Army Infantry Equipment (Advanced)

I'd like to explain how to collect the basic infantry equipment for an Imperial Japanese Army soldier. Trying to assemble a complete uniform from the start can be quite challenging. Therefore, I'll provide guidance on what to collect, prioritizing items, over several installments. PriorityStandardBeginnerCollecting a military uniform.IntermediateCollecting official military-issued gears.AdvancedCollecting full kit In this advanced edition, I will introduce items that are not only essential for full kit but also pay attention to details that may not be readily visible. If you have been able to collect items up to this point, you should be well-equipped to participate in strict…

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December 23rd, 2023

Clothing / Field Gears / For Beginners / Uniforms

How to Collect Imperial Japanese Army Infantry Equipment (Intermediate)

I'd like to explain how to collect the basic infantry equipment for an Imperial Japanese Army soldier. Trying to assemble a complete uniform from the start can be quite challenging. Therefore, I'll provide guidance on what to collect, prioritizing items, over several installments. PriorityStandardBeginnerCollecting a military uniform.IntermediateCollecting official military-issued gears.AdvancedCollecting full kit In this intermediate section, I will introduce the equipment that was left out in the beginner's section due to budget considerations. By completing the intermediate section, you'll have most of the essential items for a Japanese Army infantryman's basic uniform. Once you can pull off this look, you'll…

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November 30th, 2023

Clothing / For Beginners / Uniforms

Consideration Regarding Type 98 Summer Tunic

In order to dress in the military attire of the Imperial Japanese Army during the Greater East Asian War period, there are primarily three types of uniforms: Showa 5 (1930) design the Showa 5 Military Tunic and Trousers (Shōgo-shiki Gun-i-ko/昭五式軍衣袴) Showa 13 (1938, 2598 in the Imperial calendar) design the Type 98 Military Tunic and Trousers (Kyūhachi-shiki Gun-i-ko/九八式軍衣袴) Showa 18 (1943, 2603 in the Imperial calendar) design the Type 3 Military Tunic and Trousers (San-shiki Gun-i-ko/三式軍衣袴) There are also variations such as tropical uniforms for hot climates (Bōsho-i-ko/防暑衣袴) and wartime-issue uniforms (Decisive Battle Uniforms), but this analysis will primarily focus…

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September 23rd, 2023