WWII Japanese Aviator’s Photo Shrine
Hello again and thank you for visiting. Among my favorite items from WWII to see and collect are individually personal things that remind us that the combatants are people. With their deeply held religious beliefs and dedication to the Emperor, the Japanese soldiers, sailors, and airmen left behind some of the most interesting historical pieces. The Bushido (“way of the warrior”) code, a tradition from Samurai times, made Japan’s fighters unique among the combatants of WWII. Many of the items they left behind are naturally connected to the Bushido culture, and also the Shinto religion.
Today’s post features one such fascinating piece. This is a photo shrine dedicated to a military aviator killed in action. His photo, in flight gear, is featured in a beautiful wooden presentation. Depicted is the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, which names almost 2.5 million Japanese, including their origins, birthdates, and places of death. Yasukuni honors Japan’s warriors from 1869 when the shrine was founded through 1954. It is a frequent image in photos, plaques, photo frames, etc. In addition, the brass plate below the photo, translates to “7th Class Blue Paulownia Badge”, a high military decoration. The back of the photo has a prolific inscription in beautiful Japanese Kanji characters. I do not read Japanese, and any assistance translating it would be appreciated. Using a translation app is not likely to work with many lavish pictogram languages in my experience.
There is no way to know why this miniature shrine is not still in this flyer’s family. As often happens, a warrior’s bloodline may end, or simply no one is left who cares to keep the items or legacy alive. That is the importance of the individual collector, to be the custodian of the pieces, stories, and history, before they again pass them on. Far more WWII items are in private hands then all the museums combined. There is not just enough museum space for every historically significant item. Also, private donations, from the service members themselves and collectors, are the biggest source of items for museums. If you are fascinated with the events, people, and artifacts of WWII, keep coming back! Tell you friends too! Check out my content and connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorldWarIIRevisited (my Page) and https://www.facebook.com/groups/467709864993532 (my Group) and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcR0k6W1SMgNbd-T8oZkffA (YouTube)
