Description:

KAITEN MANNED TORPEDO CREWMAN'S HACHMAKI HEADBAND
An extremely rare Japanese ‘hachimaki', or headband, of white linen, screen-printed with a ‘kikusui' symbol depicting a chrysanthemum over flowing water, with the legend in kanji: ‘Divine Right Doctrine', over ‘Wind God Special Attack Group [Tokkotai]', over ‘Chihaya Group'. The combination of this designation with the kikusui indicates ownership by a ‘kaiten' manned torpedo crewman, specifically attached to the ‘Chihaya group', the third deployment of these weapons aboard the submarines I-44, I-368 and I-370, which were assigned to the waters around Iwo Jima in February of 1945. This group was unsuccessful, and the latter two submarines were sunk by U.S. forces with all hands. The hachimaki is additionally decorated with falling cherry blossoms, and is ragged at the edges as manufactured, otherwise in fine condition.

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March 26, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000