J003458 (IJA) SERGEANT MAJOR'S SUMMER SERVICE TUNIC. An unlined, light olive drab cotton tunic for warm weather conditions, which features breast pockets, a five button, single-breasted front closure, and a lay-down collar. The patch breast pockets have scalloped, button-down flaps, with buttons. Beneath each armpit are vertical ventilation slashes, each with a button to one side, and a buttonhole to the other. The left side of the tunic waist has a button-down strap for adding extra support to the bayonet when being worn. The larger buttons to the front closure are of black colored bakelite, and the smaller ones to the breast pockets, ventilation slashes and bayonet support strap, appear to be of pressed wood fibre. All are complete with their original stitching. Sewn to either side of the collar are 1 1/2" x 3/4", red wool tabs, each with a yellow stripe running along their centers, against which are pinned three, five-pointed stars. These indicated the rank of Sergeant Major. It is likely that the stars originally had a silver wash, no trace of which remains, and light verdigris may be seen to one set of them. The tabs themselves are lightly to moderately age soiled. To the interior, an open-topped patch pocket is to the base of each front panel. To the interior left breast is ink stamped two vertical rectangles, the left divided into four columns, all left blank, and the right with three columns, each with kanji characters within them. To the center column of the right rectangle is a "Showa era 20th year" (1945) date, and its right column has a size "medium" indication. Above the right rectangle is a cartouche with kanji characters for "3 Type" within it, and beneath the rectangle is a smaller, vertical rectangle with kanji characters within it, alongside of which are encircled characters which likely indicate the maker. Although it has the last pattern, "3 Type" uniform designation, this, by virtue of its lack of hip pockets, would appear to be an example of "Kesenfuku," or home front battle wear, which would be in keeping with its 1945 date. A loop is to the interior neck, beneath which may be seen numerical ink stamps. The tunic exhibits only light age and usage soiling throughout. Roughly a size 38.

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