1942 Imperial Japanese Women’s Patriotic Association Anniversary Photo Album For Sale

Historical Graduation Album – Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), Sasebo Naval Barracks, 1940 (2600)

This is an original graduation commemorative photo album for new recruits of the Imperial Japanese Navy, Sasebo Naval Barracks (22nd Division), dated Showa 15 (1940 / Imperial Year 2600).

The cover is decorated with gilt text reading “Sasebo Naval Barracks – Seaman 4th Class Graduation Commemoration” along with warship and aircraft motifs.

📖 Historical Context (explained simply)

• What is a Seaman 4th Class?
  At the time, this was the lowest enlisted rank in the IJN. Every new recruit began as Seaman 4th Class and could be promoted step by step to 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Class Seaman.
• What is a Naval Barracks (Kaheidan)?
  Before being assigned to the fleet, all recruits underwent basic training at a naval barracks. Training included drill, gymnastics, bayonet practice, small arms, boat handling, seamanship, signaling, and discipline.
  This album commemorates the successful completion of that training.
• Where and When?
  This album comes from Sasebo Naval Barracks, attached to the Sasebo Naval District (Nagasaki Prefecture), one of the four major bases of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
  The year 1940 was a turning point: Japan was already at war in China (since 1937), and in September 1940 it signed the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy, moving closer to global war.
• Who was in Command?
  At the time, the commander of the Sasebo Naval District was Vice Admiral Hirata Noboru (Nov 1939 – Oct 1940), whose name is noted in relation to this album.

📸 Contents of the Album

• Group photographs of recruits and instructors
• Naval ceremonies with the Rising Sun flag
• Physical training, including sumo-style wrestling and mass drills
• Rowing and seamanship exercises
• Dockyard and labor scenes
• Onboard photographs of warships, including saluting drills and inspections
• Gas mask training and even early aviation instruction scenes
• Views of the naval base and barracks facilities

📐 Condition & Details

• Format: Horizontal cloth-bound album, string binding
• Cover gilt title: “Sasebo Naval Barracks – Seaman 4th Class Graduation 2600”
• Condition: The cover shows heavy wear, fading, and stains consistent with age. Interior pages show some toning and minor spotting, but photographs remain clear and legible.

⭐ Significance

• A rare and complete first-hand record of how new IJN recruits were trained on the eve of World War II.
• Provides valuable insight for military historians, collectors, and researchers.
• Documents not only the men but also the environment of Sasebo, one of Japan’s most important naval bases.

👉 This album is offered as a historical artifact. It is not intended to glorify or promote any past political or military regime

Fedex or Japan post

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