Japanese Navy Uniform Group ID’d to Captain KIA at Truk

A nice WWII Japanese Navy Dress Uniform Group Named To Captain Yoshizu Nakamaruo. Consists of; leather trunk with brass name plate; Black Wool Tailed Jacket with heavy gold and silver bullion embroidered collar, Captains cuff braid, matching gilt buttons and quilted silk lining with embroidered name tag; Black wool frock coat with Captains cuff braid, black satin lining, matching gilt buttons, worn name tag in collar; Black wool trousers with gold stripes; Black wool vest with small gilt buttons; Navy Dress Sword belt with inked name on the reverse. All in excellent condition with a few minor moth holes. Both jackets are set up for shoulder boards / epauletts which are not present.
Jackets and suit case are named to Yoshizo Nakamaruo who was brought out of retirement to assumed command of the Auxiliary Cruiser AIKOKU MARU. The AIKOKU MARU was a passenger-cargo ship launched in 1940, Requisitioned by the IJN in Sept 1941, converted to an Auxiliary Cruiser with the addition of four 152mm guns, two 76mm AA guns, Type 93 machine guns and two 533mm torpedo tubes. Also fitted with searchlights and booms for float planes. The AIKOKU MARU served through-out the Pacific and saw action against the Australian built mine sweeper HMIS BENGAL. Captain Nakamaruo assumed command Oct 20 1943, the AIKOKU MARU saw action against the USS Trigger on Jan 31 1944, arrived at Truk Lagoon Feb 16 1944 and sunk by American air attacks Feb 17-18 with 400 KIA’s. Captain Nakamaruo was posthumously promoted to Rear Admiral.
In July 1980
the remains of about 400 men KIA aboard AIKOKU MARU were recovered by the Japanese, cremated in Shinto rites and the ashes returned to Japan.