Prayer flag prepared for Shinzo Furuya

Included in the box of mementos Grandpa kept tucked away in a closet were two Japanese prayer flags, which were the Japanese national flag known as the Hinomaru with prayers and greetings from family and friends.
Before heading off to battle, Japanese soldiers were presented with the hinomaru at a celebration where family, friends and well-wishers would gather to bid the soldier a safe and victorious journey.  On the flag, they would write their names, good luck sayings and sometimes prayers.  Written along the top, a family member or friend wrote the prayer "Pray for the lasting good fortunes of warriors" (an alternate translation is: "Pray for the military - good luck forever").  Receiving such a hinomaru was a great honor for the soldier, and with it came an intense feeling of pride, for he knew that the war awaited.  While in battle, the soldier would typically wear the flag around his waist or carry it beneath his uniform.  Shinto priests often compared the flags to the crucifixes Christian soldiers wore, serving as a central part of their religious beliefs.

Silk prayer flag

As mentioned in the welcome message, the exact circumstances under with Grandpa acquired the prayer flag are not known, but in a conversation with Mr. Wallace Ralston, a good friend of Grandpa's during the war, he found it on Iwo Jima after an attack by Japanese forces.

A second flag, this one was canvas and not silk, was also found.  It did not include a message or the owner of the flag, but with the help of Fumiko Kishi-Chiuini we were able to identify the name "Suzuki" approximately 14 times on the flag.

Canvas prayer flag - the name "Suzuki" appears about 14 times