IJA Uniform Wearing Guide

Preface

This is an excerpt of translation of the wearing guide from the 1917 edition of the “Uniform maintenance and utilization manual”. While this is from 1917, the general rules did not change drastically except the addition of the different uniforms. The book itself is a handy reference for maintenance and sewing guidelines, which hopefully I will get to someday in the future to translate it. Note that the feet and inches in this translation refers to the Japanese feet and inch, Shaku(feet), and Sun(inch). Each Japanese feet is 10 inch, rough 303.303mm.

Underwear Top

1. The unbuttoned sleeves edge should not be long enough to reach the back of your hands
2. If it is too long, close up about 2,3 inches up from the sleeve line.
3. If the sleeve mouth is too big, you may attach additional buttons on the sleeve

Underwear Bottom

1. Underwear trousers shall be worn pulled completely to the highest point, cover the buttocks completely. The right tie is to be pulled through the left hole on the underwear trousers, circle once around to the front, and tied on the right front.
2. The testicles shall be on the left side.
3. The trousers ankle ties shall be tied above the feet and on the outside of the trousers.
4. The length of the trousers shall be just right above the bottom fibula bone.

Socks

1. Before wearing the socks, you should fold them about half way down in order to completely fit your foot into the socks. Once on, pulled the rest of the half upwards.
2. After washing the socks you should switch the foot or the side of the socks.
3. In order to prevent the socks from slipping out of your shoes, you may elect to wear the socks underneath your trousers,

Trousers

1. The testicles shall be on the left side.
2. Tie the trousers ties in a way without having them sag to either side from movement.
3. The trouser length shall be just right above the fibula bottom bone.
4. Be careful in not letting the buttock sewing lines to sag beyond where it is at
5. For riding trousers, tie the leg ties above the fibula bone.

Top and collar liner

1. When putting on the top, raise your arms high and wiggle to let the jacket fall on you.
2. After putting the top on, adjust and fix any part of your underwear that slipped
3. For the collar liner, fold it as the below picture. each fold being about 1.3 to 1.4 inch (note: 3.93 cm)
4. The collar liner shall be about 1 tenth inch (3.03 mm) above the collar, and you may clip it in order to prevent it from slipping
5. Button up the uniform starting from the top hook, and work your way down.
6. The length of the uniform should stick out about 6.5 inches (19.69 cm) below your hip bone. The sleeve length shall be just at the wrist bones.
7. The underwear should not slip beyond the uniform, adjust your underwear accordingly
8. The winter uniform should be the size where you are still able to fit winter underwear underneath it.
9. The sleeve insignia shall be sew with the “Matsuri” style along the edge of the insignia backing.
   
10. The shoulder boards location shall be split from the highest point of the about 3/4 down from the point, and 1/4 up from the point.


1. The collar tabs shall be tacked on at several points along the edge
2. The sleeve insignia is about 4 inch (12.03 cm) from the shoulder seam, and shoulder boards center about 5 inches (15.01 cm) from the top seam
3. The collar tabs shall be 1 tenth inch (3.03 mm) from the edge, center of the collar insignia shall be about 6 tenth inch ( 1.80 cm) from the edge of the collar tag. If it is a two part insignia, it shall be 5 tenth inch (1.50 cm) from the edge, and 4 tenth inch (1.20 cm) between the center of the insignia

Cap

1. The visor shall, along with the cap star, in a line with your nose. It shall be sitting upright and even, not sliding to either side.
2. The bottom part of the visor shall sit about 1 inch (3.03 cm) above the root of the ears, which is about 2 fingers width.

Boots

1. The boots shall be worn after the ties are completely loosened up, and the tongue opened up. Do not step the ankle part of boots into the boots. The tongue shall be loose enough to fit your index finger into the sides.
2. The laces shall be tied 2, 3 times around the mouth of the foot, in order to not interfere with movement.
3. The shoe sizes shall be large enough to fit the winter socks and not feel too tight on your feet.
4. Before wearing the boots, dump all the dusts and stones from the insides, and make sure the socks are tight without folds.

Long boots

1. Using both of your hands and pull the boots up with the pull ties on the inside of the boots
2. After the boots are on securely, fold the pull ties back into the boots
3. When putting on spurs, make sure to release the buckle and hook on the spurs from the rear of the boots. And secure it by using the secondary buckles through the bottom of the boots.

Leg Rolls (Puttees)

1. Hold down the trousers at the knees, and using the sew lines underneath the first lace hole, start the leg roll with the bottom covering the first lace hole, and roll the puttees from the interior side to the exterior side, the side that faces the outside. with the starting point around the rear of your boots
2. The leg rolls, should be very tight for the first two rolls as you work from the insides to the outsides, with the 3rd and 4th roll doing a double fold as you work your way up, it should end about underneath the knees. The ties shall be tied roughly in line with the trouser seams. Adjust the length of the tie by folding the tie over each other.
3. It’s easier to put it on if you have your trousers hang over your boots.
4. Both sides shall end up at the same height.
5. The shoe laces should be covered up by the leg rolls, and not shown
6. The leg rolls ties shall not have any extra length hanging about, and folded into the ties neatly.
7. The leg rolls end ties should be in line with the outside seams of your trousers,
   

Coat

1. Unbutton the rear buttons, and put on the coat as you would the uniform
2. Hook on the collars first, then the inner buttons, then the outer buttons, and lastly the mask buttons
3. If required, you may hook the edge buttonholes on the bottom of the coat to the belt hooks, or close up the buttons from the back.
4. The length shall be roughly 2 inches (6.06 cm) below the knees, sleeve roughly 1.5 inches (4.54 cm) longer than the wrists.
5. Chest should be loose enough to fit the uniform along with the winter underwear.

Bread Bag

1. Hook the bag to the belt, and make sure all the straps are buckles, hang from the left shoulder to the right side. (Note: The bag is to be worn with the straps between the second and the third button of the uniform)
2. The right side of the bag should be in line the the center of your back

Canteen

1. Canteens are split between the foot canteen straps and the riding canteen straps. The foot canteen straps are to be worn from the left shoulder to the right side, and the riding canteen straps are to be worn from the right shoulder to the left side. The strap buckle and the canteen buckle shall be facing forward in each case. When wearing the foot canteen straps, the canteen shall sit right on top the bread bag and above the bread bag flap and straps.The canteen straps shall sit right above the bread bag side straps, touching its edges. The canteen mouth shall end up about the edge of the top of the belt. The canteen shall sit upright and not sliding to the side. The curved part of the canteen shall face outwards, and the flat part shall face towards the body.
2. The canteen should be right below the second button.
3. The mouth of canteen should be in line with the bottom of the belt.

Pack

1. Buckle the left shoulder straps, and slowly slide the backpack on with your right hand on the right shoulder straps, unbuckled.
2. Buckle the right shoulder straps in.
3. Using the front hooks, hook them at the section of the belt where it the center of the ammo boxes in front.
4. Be mindful of the folds that are created when wearing the back pack, adjust accordingly, and avoid the straps covering or clipping your shoulder boards.
   

Winter underpants

1. Shall be worn above the regular underwear trouser, fold the outer edges in to create an air pocket.

Winter socks

1. Worn while you are putting on the winter boots. Wear the regular socks underneath these winter socks.

Winter vest

1. Worn either over the uniform or the coat.

Winter Coat

1. Usually worn in place of the regular coat, however, you may need to wear the winter vest underneath the winter coats.

Winter Wool Mask

1. Worn underneath the cap, extra length on the bottom shall be tucked into the collar.

Winter boots

1. Worn in place of the regular boots when required,

Winter gloves

1. Worn in place of the regular gloves

Mosquito cover

1. Hang from the top and tie the ties from behind, be mindful and do not let the cover the the back of your head.

Supplemental information about the type 98 ranks, all the wearing guide information still applies, but due to the switch to the metric system in 1927. The information should now be rounded to the closest millimeter. The ranks are to be 6 mm from the edge, and 12 mm from the bottom, if any insignia is to be used, it is to be 15 mm outwards beyond the ranks. [1]

1. Ministry of Army. “Showa 5 Nen Rikutatsu Dai 8 Go Rikugun Fukusei Narabini Sougu no Seishiki ni Yoru Eribu Kisho no Seishiki Narabi ni Erisho Oyobi Eirbu Kisho no Tsukechaku Yoryou non Ken” 昭和５年陸達第８号陸軍服制並装具の制式に依る襟部徽章の制式並に襟章及襟部徽章の付著要領の件 [Regarding the Showa 5  Armywide Order No. 8 on the Army Uniform and Equipment Regulation and the Collar Rank and Insignia Location]. Tokyo. Raikanshu (Shiman) Dai 4 Bu Showa 15 Nen 來翰綴（支満）第４部昭和１５年 [Incoming Messages (China Manchuria) 4th Volume 1940]. 1940. JACAR Ref.C01007802000.

Bibliography

Ministry of Army. Hifuku Teire Hozon Hou 被服手入保存法 [Uniform Maintenance and Utilization Manual]. Tokyo: Heiyou Tosho 兵用図書. 1917.

Yamada Raizo 山田頼三. Naimu ni Kansuru Kokoroe 内務ニ関スル心得 [Tips Regarding Internal Affairs]. Tokyo: Gunsu Shokai 軍需商会. 1914.