Kanji Assistance

[Bruce Pennington]

Can someone translate this?  Anyone recognize the emblem?

 

[Nobody]

壮 (so) - prime

 

FYI: Yokusan Sonendan - Wikipedia

 

[Bugyotsuji]

[Bruce Pennington]

Wow, guys!  Incredible!  That makes this quite a cool piece of history.  It's on a NCO Type 95, welded or soldered on the saya.  I'll pass this on and see if I can post the whole sword.

 

Thought I'd post the Wikipedia article for the readers (and in case that link ever gets changed or lost)

[Bruce Pennington]

@Nobody & @Bugyotsuji

 

The overall emblem seems to fit the IRAA logo, but missing the eagle or kite head.  I don't find an image in the discussion of the youth organization Yokusan Sonedan, but they do mention the issue of weapons, whereas the IRAA is a political party.  So, safe to assume the emblem is for the youth program?

 

Moriyama-san - Do you have a source with pictures?  I'd like to lock in the youth program, but I'd also LOVE to see any photos of the group that may show uniforms and weapons.  Reason being, there are multiple discussion of black-painted gunto, helmets, and rifles.  With this particular gunto being painted black, I'm beginning to wonder if the black-painted equipment might be tied to the youth group?!?!

[Bugyotsuji]

https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=大日本翼賛壮年団&client=safari&hl=ja-jp&prmd=inv&sxsrf=ALiCzsYectzy0IVpilp2NF1PGETQEH_VWg:1661349128893&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjot7Plz9_5AhXJiVwKHan9DEsQ_AUoAXoECAIQAQ&biw=414&bih=715&dpr=2#imgrc=1SmwHWOljsOJUM
 

Run some searches and look for images.

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

22 hours ago, Bugyotsuji said:

Run some searches and look for images.

Thanks Piers!  Looks to be the emblem on the right is of the IRCC, but the one on the left, a seller says "昭和15年に「一国一党」運動として誕生した大政翼賛会の下部組織、大日本翼賛壮年団のバッジです。 状態は良好ですが経年の感じはあります。 大きさは21×13.5mm程です。 コレクションや"  A sub-organization of the IRCC?  Could that be the Yokusan Sonendan that Moriyama referenced?

[Bugyotsuji]

According to your dealer the name of the sub organization was 大日本翼賛壮年団 which is what Moriyama San linked, yes.

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks Piers!  I'm going with Yokusan Sonendan then.