Japanese Reader Sought - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

BWEF · #1 04-07-13, 07:18 PM

Are any members of this forum able to read Japanese? I am assuming that the two cards below actually are in Japanese?

Can anybody tell me exactly what these cards are, and what are the fancy postmarks?

Thanks in advance.

BWEF · #2 11-07-13, 01:47 AM

Well, if nobody can read these cards, can anybody confirm that they are Japanese, rather than from say China?

Mike Jackson · #3 11-07-13, 05:24 AM

In my opinion they are Japanese - historically the characters were identical in Japanese and written Chinese, but the clue is the use of the chrysanthemum in the design - that I believe is a Japanese tradition.

Chacal · #4 11-07-13, 04:48 PM

I sent images of these to a friend in Tokyo, he thinks the “10.7.1” refers to the 10th year of Showa (AD 1935), although it could equally be the 10th year of Meiji, Taisho etc. I’m hoping he can give more info, but he seems to think they are definitely from Japan. I’ll keep you posted.

Graham

Rob Miller · #5 11-07-13, 05:36 PM

Just had a look in an old Stanley Gibbons catalogue, can't see this as a specific Japanese stamp but its very similar to lots of pre war designs and as Mike says they all have the chrysanthemum in the design.

Rob

John Mulcahy · #6 12-07-13, 10:54 AM

One of my work team has a Japaneses spouse and speaks some Japanese himself.

I have had them look at these and here is their input.

Postcards from pre war Japan. Time period for both look like Showa period....these particular ones are about 1935.

First one was mailed from Guma prefecture. Cost was about 1.5 yen to mail. Emperor seal is the chrysanthemum. Samurai on horse back was Kusunori Masashige, Kamakura period born in 1129. Know for strategic tactics on the battlefield.

The second one was mailed from Nagano. Second seems to show some German influence.....maybe a German village with hiker.

John