J02754 (IJA) EM/NCO’S FIELD CAP WITH NECK FLAP. The standard field cap used by the Japanese army until the end of the war. The wool used in the construction of the dark olive drab body and visor in this example is of the crude late war type, as is the felt-like yellow army pattern star sewn over its forward seam line. Its short, un-stiffened visor, made of the same material as the body, has five parallel rows of reinforced stitching to its underside. The doubled leather chin strap, colored olive drab to its exterior and fixed over each ear by dual-pronged, perforated brass disks, is adjusted by two olive drab painted metal sliding buckles. The cap has three reinforced ventilation holes to either side of the crown. Three reinforced eyelets are also on either side of a 2 1/4" slit to the reverse; the six bound together by an adjustable, olive drab tie tape. All four of the subtle, horizontal thread attachment loops for the neck flap are intact along the exterior base of the cap. The interior is lined in a course weave, muslin-type material. To the left of the lining is ink stamped a vertical rectangle divided into four columns, all left blank, and beneath it are five kanji characters within a cartouche. To the right is stamped another vertical rectangle, divided into three columns, each with kanji characters, the first five of the six to the middle column reading "Showa era 19th year" (1944), and the single character to the right column being a size "medium" indication. Another, smaller cartouche, with indistinguishable characters within, is stamped to the base of the right column. Its 1 1/2" light brown pig skin sweatband is open along its reverse seam line. Although the five-pointed star is missing its lower right point, the remainder of the cap, particularly the sweatband and chin strap, appears relatively unused. Attached to the cap is a four-piece, khaki-colored cotton twill neck flap, sewn together by their top corners into a semi-circle, the two end pieces being 4 1/2" wide at their bases, and the two center pieces approximately 6 1/2" wide, all narrowing to 2 3/4" at their tops, with heights of roughly 7". Reinforced eyelets are to either side of the top central connection - these allowing the adjustment string to the reverse of the cap to loop through them. To the interior, to either top end, and to the next connection in from either side, are sewn vertical, blackened metal tabs which slide through the four loops along the edge of the cap. To the top interior edge of the leftmost panel is ink stamped a cartouche with kanji characters within it, as well as at least two horizontal rectangles, with equally indiscernible characters within them. The neck flap has wrinkling and very light age soiling to it, but is otherwise in excellent condition. Original caps with neck flaps seldom turn up.