WWII Japanese Thousand Stitch Belt (Senninbari)

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WWII Japanese Thousand Stitch Belt (Senninbari)

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Sold Date: 11/10/2007
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Militaria & Weapons

WWII era Japanese Thousand Stitch Charm Belt

(Sennin Bari)

Japanese women, a man's mother, sister or wife, created these belts for their men to be worn under their uniforms. These women would stand near their local temple and would ask any female passerby to sew in a "French knot" stitch with red thread. These belts were known in the west as "the thousand-person-stitch belts". Red thread was used, for red was considered an auspicious color. Coins could be sewn onto the belt, usually the five "sen". Five is beyond four and the word for the number four is in Japanese is "shi" which sounds like the word for death, tfore a four "sen" would not be used. The coins are circular. The word for circle is "en" same as the currency we call "yen". "En" sounds like the same word that means fate or karma.

The belt worn around the waist was supposed to bring good luck, confer courage and make the wearer immune to bullets.

This belt is 76 inches long, 5 ½ inches wide at the widest point. It has 1000 red knots, a small "rising sun" flag, 2 coins, 4 areas of writing on the front, painted in solid paint. The front of the belt is made of a green cloth. I do not know what the writing says. It is very hard to photograph it on the green. On the inside of the belt is a pocket to store items, on the outside of the pocket is a smaller pocket that is the size of a photograph and perhaps was used for such. T are some Japanese characters on the outside of this pocket as well. The belt is good repair; t are no holes or rips. It shows wear from being used. It is in its original condition. We did not try to clean this because it is so fragile from age. You can see that much care was put into the construction of this belt by the details of the sewing (the inside pockets, etc)

Included in a waterproof bag was an "imobukuro" comfort bag in which the belt was stored. The bags were used to send troops small gifts. Also included in this auction is 12 pieces of Japanese occupation currency, 5 post cards and a photograph of an attractive oriental woman. Hopefully someday, this photograph may aid in identifying the soldier and his family.

Frank Kerr, whose family I have known for years, a fellow Pennsylvanian, who was an engineer stationed in the Pacific theater brought these items back.

BID NOW on the original "Thousand Stitch" Belt. You won't come one like this very often. If you are collector this is a rare and very fine example of the "Senninbari" one that should be in your collection.

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