DescriptionThis is an original 1919 Imperial Japanese Navy handbook for naval reservists, titled Kaigun Zaigo Gunjin Suchi (Guide for Navy Reservists).It was compiled by the Personnel Bureau of the Japanese Navy Ministry and published by the Imperial Reservists Association.For collectors unfamiliar with the term, a Japanese naval reservist was a former active-duty serviceman who had returned to civilian life but remained connected to the Navy and could still be called back to service.This was not simply a book about the Navy. It was a practical handbook intended for the men themselves.Its contents cover subjects such as military obligations, mobilization and recall, changes of residence, regulations, insignia, and the Imperial Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors. It provides a fascinating look at how a Japanese sailor’s relationship with the Navy continued even after he returned to civilian life.What makes this particular copy especially interesting is the writing on the front cover.The name:Yonezo Ohashi (大橋米蔵)is handwritten on the cover, together with “Kure,” an additional character that is difficult to read, and the number “17379.”Kure was one of the most important naval bases and naval districts of the Imperial Japanese Navy.Because this handbook was specifically intended for former Navy personnel who remained subject to reserve obligations, these handwritten markings may represent identification or registration information connected with the original owner.However, the exact meaning of the number 17379 and the military service history of Yonezo Ohashi have not been independently confirmed. Therefore, I do not claim an association with any particular ship or naval unit.And perhaps that is part of what makes this artifact so compelling.This did not belong to a famous admiral whose story has already been told countless times.More than a century later, the name of an ordinary Japanese sailor is still written on its cover.The year was 1919, immediately following World War I—a period when the Imperial Japanese Navy was rapidly becoming a major naval power in the Pacific, decades before the battles of World War II.A large historical story suddenly becomes very personal when one name survives.The booklet shows age-related toning, stains, wear, edge and corner damage, and other signs of its more than 100-year history. Please examine all photographs carefully for the actual condition.Whether you are an experienced Japanese militaria collector or simply beginning to explore Imperial Japanese naval history, this is an evocative original artifact from a fascinating transitional period.History does not survive only in museums or textbooks.Sometimes it survives in a small handbook—and in the name someone wrote on its cover more than a century ago.Own a Piece of History.Shipping
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