Japan, Imperial. An Army Sun Helmet, c.1940

This is an extremely well-preserved Second War period Japanese Army sun helmet, constructed of a woven bamboo frame with an exterior tan-coloured canvas twill liner. The helmet is an example of a third version, type 98 sun helmet issued after September 1941, notable for the elimination of any ventilation fixtures. There is a single insignia on the peak of the helmet in the form of a yellow, machine-embroidered, five-pointed star on a dark brown, pentagon-shaped cloth background. Two brown canvas bands are securely attached with double rows of stitching to the mid-section and brim of the hat, with the latter transitioning to a dark brown liner which encompasses the entirety of the interior. Stitched into the interior liner is a six-fingered, tan-coloured canvas stabilizer, preventing the helmet from sliding around on the wearer’s head. There is a canvas chinstrap loop around the stabilizer, complete with an adjustable magnetic metal buckle. At the front of the interior, there is a painted white mark in clear Chinese characters translating to “front”. The helmet is otherwise unmarked and measures approximately 282 mm in diameter and 175 mm in height. There are minor patches of fatigue to the exterior material, but the helmet is in an otherwise extremely fine condition.