JAPANESE WWII ENLISTED MANS WOOL TUNIC

This is a rare original Japanese wool Enlisted Man’s tunic.  The uniform is in good shape and 4 pockets, two top and two bottom sets of pockets. All buttons are intact along with the original hanging loop.   There is an inner white/beige lining.

There is a tag on the inside of the coat with Japanese writing, not sure what this says.

Chest Size 36.

In 1941, the Imperial Japanese Army had 51 divisions and various special-purpose artillery, cavalry, anti-aircraft, and armored units with a total of 1,700,000 people. 

At the beginning of WWII , most of the Japanese Army (27 divisions) was stationed in China. A further 13 divisions defended the Mongolian border.

From 1942, soldiers were sent to Hong Kong (23rd Army), the Philippines (14th Army), Thailand (15th Army), Burma (15th Army), Dutch East Indies (16th Army), and Malaya (25th Army). 

By 1945, there were 6 million soldiers in the Imperial Japanese Army.

Starting a few years into the war the Japanese troops suffered for a shortage of supplies, food, medicine, munitions, and armaments.

This greatly affected the Japanese Army as it caused large number of fighter planes to be unserviceable due to lack of parts.  It is estimated that 2/3 of Japan’s total military deaths were caused by illness or starvation.