Belt, Good-Luck, Japanese, Senninbari haramaki

Rare genuine WWII Japanese good-luck cloth belt, Senninbari haramaki. 

Just like the flag offered by families and friends (Hinomaru yosegaki) or the war banner given by some local association or patriotic organization, the 'one-thousand stitch belt' is one of the main spiritual protection artifacts carried by the Nipponese serviceman departing for war. Its origins seem to date back to the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895).

Designed by the warrior's mother, sister, or spouse, it was a participative work, made up of a plain fabric strip intended for being tied around the waist, and on which various motifs and messages of support were to be sewn: traditionally, these inscriptions were supposed to be composed of one thousand stitches and every single stitch was to be embroidered by a different woman at the request of the initiator. 

The present belt does not feature embroidered motifs, but various ideograms have been painted on the cloth and a coin was sewn onto it, fulfilling the function of an amulet.

Quite good, worn condition.