Man’s nagajuban with characters from Japanese tales and symbols of the axis powers
Not on view
In this garment dating from 1940/1941 when the Tripartite Pact inaugurated the Axis Powers, tiny, precise images of a visual lexicon of characters from Japanese folklore, including Momotarō (“Peach Boy” with his friends, a fox, monkey, and pheasant), and Kintarō (“Golden Boy”, carrying a bear), are interspersed with the flags of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, and military motifs like anchors, bugles, and helmets. As a stand-in for the Japanese flag, the wry graphic designer of this fabric included the peach flag of Momotarō. The writing on the white banner reads, “Nihon ichi”, “Japan is number one.”
Kintarō, a boy raised in the forest, befriended animals also having super-human strength, is shown both lifting a bear and wrestling a giant carp. His axe, with which he could cut down great stands of trees, is held by what appears to be a bear cub attendant. The character on his chest stands for gold. Kintarō remains one of Japan's most popular figures and his image may be found in storybooks, manga comics, anime movies, and action figures.
