Original Item: Only One Available. Here we have a very nice example of a 1938 dated Imperial Japanese Army Winter Fur cap, as used during WWII. While most picture the "Pacific War" as being fought on a bunch of Tropical Islands, Japan itself has regions of cold, and they also invaded China and were aware of the threat if Russia were to attack. They also invaded the Aleutian Island chain portion of Alaska, which is anything but tropical.

The design of the cap is similar to winter caps used around the world, insulated with an imitation fur flap going around the cap that can be folded down as needed due to colder weather. The portion over the ears is longer, so it can be tied under the chin. The front center of the cap has a yellow Imperial Japanese Army star on it, above the fur front trim. There are also numerous buttons and loops that are used to secure the cap in the two main configurations. There are even small rabbit fur lined ear flap openings, possibly for use with earphones. 

The interior of the cap is lined with white canvas, which has another thicker white canvas piece tag stitched inside of it. This piece is marked with a grid on one side, for the owner to write his name, and the other side has the maker and production information. The center line of this is a date: 昭 和 十 三 年, which reads SHOWA (current reigning emperor) Juu San Nen (13th year of reign - 1938).

Condition of the cap is very good, with little sign that this was used in the field. Even the rabbit fur on the front is in good condition, which is not common, because rabbit fur is very delicate and soft and can be easily damaged. The inside of the flap, which is lined with carpet-like imitation fur, is resilient, and in great shape.

A great chance to pick up a hard to find Imperial Japanese Winter cap, ready to display!

The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA "Army of the Greater Japanese Empire") 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 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.