2329 - Set from the Fukuda Shinya collection. Radio officer aboard the aircraft carrier Kaiyoh. Includes a pair of black cloth epaulets with gold braid, featuring gold buttons adorned with a naval anchor and cherry blossom motifs, in their original cardboard box, with numerous kanji characters. A business card belonging to this same officer. His field cap, made of khaki cotton fabric, heavily weathered by the elements. Double black braid indicating officer rank. Woven insignia, originally sewn on, with a canvas chin strap. A white cotton diamond-shaped patch bearing the officer’s name in Kanji. The drawstrings are present. A black leather belt with its shoulder strap. Gold-colored metal belt buckle featuring a naval anchor and a cherry blossom. His black cloth officer’s cap, with a black mohair band and a black leather faux chin strap. Insignia made of gold-colored filigree, featuring a silver-colored cherry blossom and a gold-colored metal naval anchor. Internal stiffener present. Double-lined interior in black silky fabric, name tag in Kanji characters, and a black leather sweatband. Note: slight wear and patina on the parts. Condition I-. The Kaiyō, meaning “Sea Falcon,” was an escort aircraft carrier used by the Imperial Japanese Navy. Originally, the ship was launched in 1938 as the Argentina Maru, a luxury passenger and troop transport ship owned by the Osaka Shosen Kaisha (OSK) company. Following heavy losses suffered by the Japanese aircraft carrier fleet in 1942, the Navy purchased it in December of that same year to convert it into a combat vessel. Its conversion was completed in November 1943. Due to a severe shortage of pilots and the deteriorating Japanese air situation, the Kaiyo never participated in major frontline battles. It primarily served as an aircraft transport to forward bases, a training ship for young pilots, and a convoy escort. At the end of the war, having withdrawn to Japanese territorial waters, it came under several attacks by British and American Allied aircraft and sustained damage from mines. In July 1945, after being severely damaged in Beppu Bay, it was deliberately run aground to prevent it from sinking. Abandoned just before Japan’s surrender, the Kaiyō was permanently struck from the navy’s rolls in November 1945 and subsequently scrapped between 1946 and 1948. Collection belonging to Ensign Shinya Fukuda, radio officer aboard the aircraft carrier Kaiyō. Includes a pair of black wool shoulder boards with gold braid and gilt buttons featuring a naval anchor and cherry blossom, in their original cardboard box with numerous kanji characters. A business card belonging to the same officer. His khaki cotton field cap, heavily weathered. Double black braid indicating officer rank. Original sewn woven badge and canvas imitation chinstrap. White cotton diamond-shaped label bearing the officer’s name in Kanji. Adjustment cords present. A black leather belt with a shoulder strap. Gold-colored metal belt buckle featuring a naval anchor and cherry blossom. His black wool officer’s cap with a black mohair band and a black leather imitation chin strap. Gold bullion embroidered badge, silver-colored cherry blossom, and gold-colored metal naval anchor. Internal stiffener present. Interior lined with black silky fabric, name label in Kanji, and black leather sweatband. Slight wear and patina should be noted. Condition I minus. Kaiyō, meaning “Sea Falcon,” was an escort aircraft carrier used by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The vessel was originally launched in 1938 as the Argentina Maru, a luxury passenger and troop transport ship owned by Osaka Shosen Kaisha (OSK). Following heavy losses suffered by the Japanese carrier fleet in 1942, the navy purchased her in December of that year to convert her into a warship. The conversion was completed in November 1943. Due to a severe shortage of pilots and the deteriorating Japanese air situation, Kaiyō never took part in major front-line battles. She served primarily to transport aircraft to forward bases, as a training ship for young pilots, and as an escort for maritime convoys. At the end of the war, after being withdrawn to Japanese home waters, she suffered several attacks by Allied British and American aircraft as well as damage from mines. In July 1945, while severely damaged in Beppu Bay, she was deliberately beached to prevent her from sinking. Abandoned shortly before Japan’s surrender, Kaiyō was finally struck from the naval register in November 1945 and scrapped between 1946 and 1948.