Near Mint Boxed Japanese Civil Kokumin-Fuku Uniform

A very near mint condition Japanese Kokumin-Fuku uniform, comprised of the tunic and trousers, in the original tailor’s box. The Kokumin-Fuku (literally “National Uniform”) was the civil men’s attire that was introduced in Japan in 1940 and worn throughout World War II. The close resemblance of the National Uniform to the Japanese Army uniform was one of the reasons for heavy casualties among Japanese civilians when the Soviet Army attacked in 1945. The primary differences between an actual army uniform and the national uniform are found in the plain, non-military buttons and the straight edged (non-scalloped) breast pocket flaps. The olive green uniform is in nearly unworn condition, with the only real evidence that the uniform was ever worn being found on the area of the collar that would have been in contact with the neck, and on the white collar liner. The head of one on the collar studs is broken. Otherwise the uniform appears largely as it looked on the day that the man who purchased it carried it out of the tailor shop in the box that is with the uniform. The box, of course, shows wear and the effects of decades of storage in a family home, but it is complete and intact. Inside of the box with the uniform were several newspaper clippings as well as a few other documents, all in Japanese, and their connection with the uniform (or, more likely, its owner) are unknown. A beautiful set and very uncommon, since most such national uniforms were quickly worn out in the immediate post-war era, during which clothing shortages were severe.