A monthly newsletter

Issue No. 5 December 2 0 14

月 刊 ニ ュースレター

第 5号

20 1 4 年 12 月

OBON 2015
Returning personal items to their families.
個人の遺留品をご遺族の元へ

ここE V E R Y O N E H A S A F A M I LY
誰でも一人一人に家族がいます

OBON 2015 wishes you aMerry Christmas,
but even more important….
a very Special New Year.
If you’ve had a good year and feel like helping…
please remember OBON 2015 is a 501(c)3…
all contributions are tax deductible.

Table of Contents
Page 2: Challenging Characters
Page 3: Challenging Characters
Page 4: The Family Goes to War
Page 5: The Scholar’s Corner
Page 6: Contact OBON 2015

contact@OBON2015.com for more information.

Thank you for your generous heart!
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OBON 2015 December NEWSLETTER

“CH AL LE NGING CHARACTERS”
OBON 2015 is blessed to work closely with extraordinary scholars who analyze eachYosegaki Hinomaru to find clues that lead to the original family. Occasionally ourresearchers come up against details that are exceptionally challenging. A hinomaru
recently sent to OBON 2015 (see below) is a perfect example.

This hinomaru contained two dominate characters which appeared to be written in sucha extreme cursive style that OBON 2015 scholars couldn’t decide up from down.

The surrounding fonts could be easily
read, which suggested this was the correct
perspective to view the characters.

However, the direction of the brushstrokes suggested the the characters werewritten to be read from this perspective.

This writing was neither Hiragana nor Katakana, and it certainly was not Kanji either.
Fortunately, one OBON 2015 researcher had knowledge about this unusual writing
style. We could hardly believe that in order to understand this particular font we had
to first learn about a remarkable Japanese scholar who lived 1200 years ago.
(continued……)!
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OBON 2015 December NEWSLETTER

“CH AL LE NGING CHARACTERS”
In the year 774 A.D., on the island on Shikoku, a child was born to a prominent family
who would eventually become the famous monk known by the name KUKAI.
While in his early 20’s Kukai’s study of Buddhism was interrupted
after he discovered the Mahavairocana Sutra. Since this came
untranslated directly from India, he traveled to China in 804 A.D. tostudy the Siddham alphabet so he could read this important text.
As the story goes, Kukai quickly mastered the Siddham
text,(example right) then returned to Japan to teachwhat he had learned. At that time all Japanese priests
wrote with Kanji characters borrowed from the Chinese,but now Kukai would change that. His exposure toother languages and his unique education would leadto the development of a new style of writing
Kukai began to isolate charactersfrom the Siddham alphabet andassign them phonetic sounds. Hiswriting (left) shows the evolution ofmany characters.
Kukai’s genius (along with the workof many other scholars) would resultin the creation of the Japanese
Hiragana (right) and Katakana which
is used throughout Japan even today.

The two characters on this flag have been identified as Siddham
text which is still used by the Shingon Buddhist priests of Japan.
The upper character “SUM” possibly refers to “VIKARALA”
one of the 12 heavenly generals who serve as a protective deity.
The lower character “BA” could translate as protecting thewestern direction.
Taken together “SUM BA” was possibly a prayer calling on thepowers of the deity Vikarala to protect this soldier during hisefforts to prevent an invasion of their homeland coming fromthe east.

!
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OBON 2015 December NEWSLETTER

THE FAMILY GOES TO WAR

Group portraits of young men leaving home typically
include family members or classmates, and occasionallyco-workers, neighbors and friends. The odd mix ofpeople who assembled for this photograph do notprovide many clues as to who they might be.
The men are dressed in western suits and militaryuniforms while the women are dressed in a variety ofstyles. In front we see one woman in a traditional
kimono with geta on her feet while next to her a young
woman with a fashionable hair style is dressed in astylish skirts, blouse, shoes and socks. Some womenappear to wear school uniforms.
The people are unknown, but the Yosegaki Hinomaru theycreated is plainly seen tied across the young man's heart.
This historic portrait was kindly acquired by Kent & Noriko Plumey,
then donated to the OBON 2015 archives. All personal materials
donated to OBON 2015 will be returned to Japan for future
generations to assess and study.

!
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OBON 2015 December NEWSLETTEROBON
2015’s FUTURE
The Scholar’s Corner
OBON 2015 scholars examine every item sent to us andthoroughly research the details for clues that lead to theoriginal family. Occasionally we are surprised by what isdiscovered. Recently we received a Yosegaki Hinomaru
containing the names of impossible people.
It will never be known whether this unique Yosegaki
Hinomaru was created to add humor to some soldier’s life,or whether it was a post-war forgery, created for thepurpose of selling to an unsuspecting member of theoccupational force.
This flag is dedicated to Mr. TADANO BONJI, however thatis the fictions name of a cartoon character (above right) whoappeared in daily newspapers back in 1933. Later theTadano Bonji character was made into movies.

Sarutobi Sasuke, is a fictitious
NINJA who appears in literature!
5“Kamatari” is possibly in reference toKamatari Fujiwara who happened to be
the comical actor that played theTadano Bonji character in many movies.

TOKUGAWA Ieyasu was thefirst Shogun of the Edo era.

Kazuo Hasegawa was afamous Japanese actor
OBON 2015 December NEWSLETTERContact OBON 2015

We wish you a Happy New Year.
Please remember;
OBON 2015 is a 501(c)3 organization.
Contributions are now tax deductible.
Your support makes our work possible.
please write: “contact@OBON2015.com”
Thank you for your generous support.
If you have a flag, or know someone who does, please contact OBON 2015. We will
gladly answer any questions and fully explain our process. It will give us great
pleasure to research the flag in your possession and return it to its proper family.

OBON 2015P.O. Box 282
Astoria, Oregon 97103
contact@OBON2015.com!
6OBON 2015 December NEWSLETTER