Original Items: Only One Lot of 5 Available. This is a lovely starter set, perfect for the collector who is just coming into the hobby. The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) was the principal ground force of the Empire of Japan. Forming one of the military branches of the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces (IJAF), it was controlled by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office and the Army Ministry, both of which were nominally subordinate to the Emperor of Japan, the supreme commander of IJAF. During the 20th century, an Inspectorate General of Aviation became the third agency with oversight of the IJA. At its height, the IJA was one of the most influential factions in the politics of Japan and was one of the most powerful armies in the world. The IJA was also notorious for committing numerous war crimes during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific War, such as the Nanjing Massacre and the Bataan Death March.

The Items In This Lot:
- Officer’s Leather Map Case: The map case is in very good condition, showing typical signs of wear. It is hand-stitched, and embroidered with a five-pointed star. This denotes that the owner was of officer rank within the Japanese military. From this we also know that this map case is an earlier example; the later cases were embroidered with a circle instead of a star.

- x2 Canteens: Both are offered in great condition with original harnesses.

- “Good Luck” Flag: The flag measures 36” x 26” and is offered without any extensive damage. There are scattered holes and moth nips but nothing that truly subtracts from the displayability of it. The body of the flag is white, with a red "sun round" dyed into the middle.

This is the typical type and size of flag that would be used as a "Good Luck Flag", but was probably captured before it could be properly decorated, which is why it is in such good condition.

- Japanese Winter Service Tunic (Unissued): Offered in fantastic condition without any signs of extensive wear or damage.

A wonderful lot that comes more than ready for further research and display.

The Imperial Japanese Army was the official ground-based armed force of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945.

It was controlled by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office and the Ministry of the Army, both of which were nominally subordinate to the Emperor of Japan as supreme commander of the army and the Imperial Japanese Navy. Later an Inspectorate General of Aviation became the third agency with oversight of the army.

During wartime or national emergencies, the nominal command functions of the emperor would be centralized in an Imperial General Headquarters (IGHQ), an ad hoc body consisting of the chief and vice chief of the Army General Staff, the Minister of the Army, the chief and vice chief of the Naval General Staff, the Inspector General of Aviation, and the Inspector General of Military Training.

In 1941, the Imperial Japanese Army had 51 divisions and various special-purpose artillery, cavalry, anti-aircraft, and armored units with a total of 1,700,000 people. At the beginning of the Second World War, most of the Japanese Army (27 divisions) was stationed in China. A further 13 divisions defended the Mongolian border, due to concerns about a possible attack by the Soviet Union. From 1942, soldiers were sent to Hong Kong (23rd Army), the Philippines (14th Army), Thailand (15th Army), Burma (15th Army), Dutch East Indies (16th Army), and Malaya (25th Army). By 1945, there were 6 million soldiers in the Imperial Japanese Army.

From 1943, Japanese troops suffered from a shortage of supplies, especially food, medicine, munitions, and armaments, largely due to submarine interdiction of supplies, and losses to Japanese shipping, which was worsened by a longstanding rivalry with the Imperial Japanese Navy. The lack of supplies caused large numbers of fighter aircraft to become unserviceable for lack of spare parts, and "as many as two-thirds of Japan's total military deaths [to result] from illness or starvation".