A Heartfelt World War II Story.
In the fall of 2019, the Grand Rapids Public Museum worked with OBON Society to return a Yosegaki Hinomaru (Japanese “Good Luck Flag”) to its rightful family in Japan. OBON Society, a non-profit in Oregon, seeks to provide reconciliation between American and Japanese families through the return of personal items acquired during World War II.
The flag came to the Museum in 2015 along with a WWII newsreel and a map of Iwo Jima, which were donated by a Grand Rapids resident.
The Museum eventually connected with OBON Society which had access to volunteer Japanese scholars who translated the messages on the flag, revealing the soldier’s origins, name and location of death. This “Good Luck” flag was also decorated with messages of safety, good luck, and well wishes from friends and family members of the Japanese soldier before he went to battle during WWII.
These flags were a common gift to soldiers; they would fold the flag up and carry it with them during the war. When a soldier was killed, these flags were often taken as battlefield souvenirs by American soldiers.
The flag was officially deaccessioned from the GRPM Collections in October 2019. Immediately after, the GRPM staff shipped the flag to OBON Society so it could be reunited with the soldier’s sister, who is still living in Japan. These flags often serve as reconcilement and healing for the families of the soldiers.
The GRPM currently has four additional “Good Luck Flags” which are logged in the Museum’s digital Collections. The GRPM has provided details about the flags to OBON Society, who will continue to search for family members.
By: Sarah Humes, the GRPM’s Associate Registrar