Japan, Imperial. An Army Officer’s Tunic With Side Cap

An extremely well-preserved Japanese Army officer’s tunic, constructed of olive-grab cotton twill with a black cotton collar. The collar is flanked on each side by insignia in the form of stylized bronze cherry blossoms, each measuring 25 mm in diameter at their widest point. The cuffs of each sleeve bear three light brown tresses, with two measuring 14 mm in width and one measuring 4 mm in width. The breasts of the tunic each have two pockets, with the upper pockets opening with a horizontal flap bearing a reinforced buttonhole meeting a gilded bronze button with a raised cherry blossom. The lower pockets opening with simple horizontal flaps. Pinned into the tunic above the upper right breast pocket is an Imperial Time Expired Soldiers League (Teikoku Zaiko Gunjin Kai) membership badge, constructed of gilded bronze and measuring 15 mm (w) x 23 mm (h), affixed to a multi-coloured rosette 38 mm in diameter. The same pocket bears an additional Army medal, constructed of silvered bronze, and measuring 27 mm in diameter. The tunic is closed with five vertical bronze buttons, each with a raised cherry blossom, meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left flap. The exterior is flanked by two integrated cotton belt loops. The interior features a complete cotton liner, which transitions into a pinstripe rayon through the arms. Interior pockets are located on both the left and right breast flaps, each opening with a black bakelite button meeting a reinforced buttonhole. An additional reinforced vertical slit opening to a shallow pocket is located at the upper right flap. The interior features are completed by an integrated cotton suspension loop and an arrangement of five white bakelite knobs holding in place a removable white cotton sweat guard. The tunic is unmarked and measures approximately 446 mm across the shoulders, with an arm length of 553 mm and an overall body length of 725 mm. Minor material fatigue and soiling is evident, but the tunic is in an otherwise near extremely fine condition.

It is accompanied by a field cap, constructed of black wool twill. The cap is flanked on each side by three ventilation holes reinforced with magnetic metal eyelets (one missing). The cap has an adjustable fit, facilitated by four reverse holes with magnetic metal eyelet reinforcement (one missing), through which is looped a blue string. Pinned into the peak of the cap is a stylized gilded bronze cherry blossom, measuring 24 mm in diameter at its widest point. The cap has a protruding integrated visor, reinforced with a thin piece of cardboard. The interior features a 35 mm-wide sweatband constructed of brown lacquered buckram, securely affixed to the cap by a row of machine stitching. It is unmarked and measures approximately 180 mm (w) x 265 mm (l) x 90 mm (h). In addition to the absent eyelets, there is material fatigue evident to the sweatband, and the cardboard visor reinforcement has cracked in the centre. In otherwise very fine condition.