J005259 (IJA) FIRST CLASS PRIVATE'S "TYPE 98" WINTER SERVICE TUNIC. The standard issue service tunic for colder weather conditions, used extensively in China and also issued and worn in the Pacific Theater during the colder winter months. The fully lined tunic is constructed from a heavy mustard-colored wool and features four exterior pockets, a five button single-breasted front closure, and a lay-down collar with a hook-and-eye closure at the neck. To either side of the collar are sewn the 1 7/8" x 1" olive drab wool bases to First Class Private's collar tabs. The machine woven red tabs are in the form of horizontal rectangles, each with two yellow five-pointed stars embroidered to them. The horizontal slash breast pockets have scalloped button-down flaps, with smaller versions of the olive drab painted metal buttons to the front closure. The two angled slash pockets to the hips each have unbuttoned flaps. The left side of the tunic waist has a button-down strap, in the same material as the tunic and with a button matching those to the breast pockets, for adding extra support for the bayonet when it was being worn. Vertical tail skirt vents are to each hip. The interior of the tunic is lined in white cotton, with a white cotton vertical slash pocket bag to the interior left breast, and a white cotton horizontal slash wound dressing pocket beneath that. The vertical slash pocket is stamped in black ink with a cartouche, within which are the kanji characters for "9," "8" and "Model." Beneath that are two boxes, the left comprised of four vertical columns, all left blank, and the right with three vertical columns, all with Kanji characters within them. The central column of the right box has six characters to it: the top two indicating the "Showa" era, followed by the characters for "10" and "5," then the character for "year" and "manufactured;" this would indicate that the tunic was manufactured in the fifteenth year of Showa, or 1940. The two characters to the rightmost column translate as "5" and "size." Beneath the boxes is a smaller rectangle with kanji to it, alongside of which is a circle with kanji to it that must the manufacturer's seal, and the number "85." Roughly a size 38. Moderate nap wear, and numerous moth nips, are evident to the wool, otherwise, the tunic is structurally sound, with all of its original stitching.

To Order this item, please use one of the two e-mail addresses below to contact us. Please make sure to quote the item number in your e-mail

MILITARIA WANTED!  If you have items for sale, please contact us. We specialize in selling single pieces and entire collections. Over 3 decades in the business and we do all the work for you. Get the best return for your investment.

-E-Mail Address pawmac@nbnet.nb.ca  Or  guild@nb.aibn.com

To return to the main page please CLICK below