The Public Service bag and other bags of the Imperial Japanese Army.
Over the past few years I have gather quite a number of army issued bukuro, from the very common Public Service bag(Hoko Bukuro) to the small Valuables bag (Kichohin bukuro) down to the Washing up bag(Senmengu bukuro) and the hard to find, Empty home remnants goods bag (留守宅殘品袋). Now that I have some spare time, I would like to share what I have with you all. I am by no means an expert but do hope I have picked up some factual information along the way. With each style of bag, I will post up some basic translations(where possible) of what they were supposed to contain and images of what they contained when I found them, from my own collection.
Please feel free to post up any additional information or examples you have, with or without contents. Also please post up mystery types or types not mentioned. I am sure there were quite a number produced for all different things, so would love to see any I do not have.
First off - The 奉公袋 Hoko bukuro (Public Service bag)
The public service bag is one of the most common bags, if not the most common IJA bags found by collectors in this day and age. While a few were souvenired from the battlefield, the majority have come from Japan post war with the large influx of Japanese dealers selling on platforms like ebay. This type of bag has become quite popular with WW2 collectors.
The ‘Hoko bukuro’ measures roughly 23cm by 33cm and can be found in a variety of colours ranging from the former defense colour（こくぼうしょく）to pale mustard yellow, down to various shades of dark green. Materials used in the construction range from cotton and linen to hemp. All issued examples have the Imperial Army’s zig-zag symbol across the top of the bag, with the kanji "奉公袋" in bold down the front. A small box to the left of the centre kanji is for the owners name. On the reverse of the bag, a large box has been printed with columns of kanji outlining the official contents of the bag.
品容悛 = Contents (Goods contained)
一、軍隊手牒、勲章、記章.
- 1. Military Paybook(guntaitecho), decorations, medals/badges/insignia
ニ、適任証書、軍隊における特業教育に関する証書.
- 2. Certificates of qualifications, military specialist certificates.
三、召集及び点呼令状.
- 3. Mobilization or call-up order.
四、その他貯金通帳など応召準備、応召のために必要と認めるものを収容するように記されている .
- 4. Other things such as savings record books, etc., and things related to preparation for the draft or recognized as needed for the draft.
There are variations to the above Hoko bukuro. Most common are the bags given out by the Military Reservist Association which can be identified by the associations insignia of a star over an anchor within a crest at the top of the bag either in place of, or superimposed over the IJA zig-zag symbol. (I will cover the contents of this bag further down).
Cheers
Matt
