Autographed and embroidered Japanese personal flag : Lieutenant General Isamura Koichi

Hand made Japanese national flag with the red central disc sewn into the flag. Around the disc are 1,000 ochre-coloured stiches for good luck. The Japanese characters in ink on the flag translate as the recipient's name, Isomura Koichi (later Lieutenant General), the traditional wish for long-lasting good fortune in war, and 'Naritasan', the name of a famous temple in the Chiba prefecture. The red printed seals on the flag are the symbols of this temple. The item was possibly made by the recipient's mother.

Presented to Major Phillips, who represented the Australian Military Forces in Halmahera after the surrender in 1945, by Lieutenant General Isamura Koichi. In a letter the general explained that he had first carried the flag into action in Shanghai in 1937. It had been presented to him by his mother who together with his brothers, sisters, her friends, a famous actor and friends of his own had embroidered the 1,000 stitches. The seals on the flag are those of the Naritasan temple in Chiba prefecture, signifying that his mother had prayed to the gods in these shrines that her son should be as loyal to the fatherland as they were.