Japan - 1000ステッチのベルトと軍用貴重品ポーチ - 軍服

◆Military Valuables Pouch
この pouch には兵士の名前が書かれています。

◆1000-stitch belt (Sen-ninbari 千人針)
Size: 68×95 cm
Material: cotton
Notes: Two precious items are sewn onto this cloth:
an “old coin” and a “paper amulet.”
Both were meant to ensure the soldier’s safe return to Japan.

1000-stitch belt (Sen-ninbari 千人針) was a prayer technique and resulting amulet that was popular in Japan until World War II, in which many women sewed threads into a piece of cloth and tied knots in it. It is a folk belief to pray for the longevity of military fortune, in other words, for soldiers' good luck on the battlefield.
A white cloth about one meter long is sewn with red thread to make a knot (tama-knot) at a glance. The goal of this activity is to have 1,000 women sew one stitch on each piece of cloth. In those days, many people called out to each other in the neighborhood and on the street.
The magical power of the cloth/thread/red color/ and the thoughts of a thousand women sewing one stitch at a time were combined in this thousand needle.
There are records that soldiers on the battlefield fought by wrapping it around their stomachs or heads as a talisman.
It is threatening, terrifying, and crazy to have a thousand people involved in a mere piece of cloth.

This 1000-stitch belt (Sen-ninbari 千人針) made of cotton, a light and strong material.
It is important that the amulet be light and strong, as soldiers fought on the battlefield with this amulet wrapped around their stomachs.
Various types of 1000-stitch belt were produced by Japanese women during the war.
This is so beautiful and carefully crafted in their overall workmanship and design.
And this is a very valuable item, nearly 100 years old but in excellent condition of preservation.
And above all, what is most astonishing is "the sheer amount of red thread".
With the light source behind it, the fact becomes visible. That is, a large quantity of red thread exists on the reverse side of the cotton fabric. I've seen a considerable number of items over the years, but I know of no other piece as meticulously crafted as this one. It is a truly remarkable item.


These two items are valuable pieces of Japanese history.
Nice collection.

Carefully packaged and shipped from Japan to overseas.
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