page_title: Good Luck Flag
section_title: History of the Good Luck Flag
hierarchical_section_title: Good Luck Flag / History of the Good Luck Flag
caption_attribution_description: Soldiers from the 2/6th Independent Company diplay Japanese flags they captured during the battle of Kaiapit between 19 and 20 September 1943. AWM photo 057510
context_page_description: The Good Luck Flag, known as yosegaki hinomaru in the Japanese language, was a traditional gift for Japanese servicemen deployed during the military campaigns of the Empire of Japan, though most notably during World War II. The flag given to a soldier was a national flag signed by friends and family, often with short messages wishing the soldier victory, safety, and good luck. Today, it is used for events such as charities and sports.
  The Japanese call their country's flag hinomaru, which translates literally to "sun's circle", referencing the red circle on a white field. When the hinomaru was signed, the Japanese characters were usually written vertically, and radiated outward from the edge of the red circle. This practice is referenced in the second term, yosegaki, meaning "collection of writing". The phrase hinomaru-yosegaki can be interpreted as "Collection of writing around the red sun", describing the appearance of the signed flag.
context_section_description: The hinomaru yosegaki was traditionally presented to a man prior to his induction into the Japanese armed forces or before deployment.  Generally, relatives, neighbors, friends, and co-workers of the person receiving the flag would write their names, good luck messages, exhortations, or other personal messages on the field of the flag.  The writing usually flowed out sideways in a rayed pattern away from the red sun.  However, if the messages became crowded, well-wishers improvised and wrote wherever they could squeeze in a message.
  Normally, some kind of exhortation such as Bu un Chou kyu is written across the top within the white field.  Loosely translated into English, Bu un Chou kyu means "May your military fortunes be long lasting."  Dark, medium-sized characters may normally be seen that run vertically down the right or left hand margin of the flag.  These usually occur in one, two or three columns and are generally the names of the man receiving the flag, and the name of the individual or organization presenting the gift to him.  The kanji characters were typically written with a calligraphy brush and ink.  While it was normally the custom to sign only around the red center of the flag, some examples may be found with characters written upon the red center as well.
  When the custom of writing on flags began is up for debate.  Some sources indicate that signed flags became part of the military man's off-to-war gear, along with a "Thousand-stitch sash" (senninbari), during the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895). Any good luck flags that pre-date the Manchurian Incident (1931) should be considered rare.  It is generally agreed that most hinomaru yosegaki seen today come from just before or during the period of the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945).
  For the military man stationed far away from home and loved ones, the hinomaru yosegaki offered communal hopes and prayers to the owner every time the flag was unfolded.  It was believed that the flag, with its many signatures and slogans would provide a combined force or power to see its owner through tough times.  Furthermore, it reminded him in a material way to do his duty.  The performance of that duty meant that the warrior was not expected to return home from battle.  Often, the departing serviceman left clipped fingernails and hair behind so that his relatives would have something of him in which to hold a funeral.  Great honor was brought upon the family of those whose sons, husbands, brothers, and fathers died in the service of country and Emperor.  The belief of self-sacrifice was a central one within Japanese culture and was much exalted during World War II.  Culturally, the Japanese believed that in doing one's duty, the soldier, sailor, or aviator must offer up his life freely to the Emperor just as the cherry blossoms fall freely from the tree at the height of their beauty.  As part of the samurai or bushido code (Way of the Warrior), this worldview was brought forward into twentieth-century Japan from the old warring days of feudal Japan and was impressed upon twentieth-century soldiers, most of whom descended from non-samurai families.
caption: More captured Japanese Flags. 26 September 1943: soldiers from the 2/6th Independent Company display Japanese flags they captured during the battle of Kaiapit between 19 and 20 September 1943. AWM photo 057510
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