2563 - "Mille Points" Vest. A very beautiful vest made of white cotton fabric. The red circle of the Japanese flag is made of red cotton fabric and is appliquéd. The back closures are intact. The embroidered "Mille Points" have been replaced with painted kanji. Note that the piece shows some wear and patina, as well as stains. Condition II+. A senninbari-haramaki is considered a good-luck charm that brings good fortune or strength to the soldier who wears it. In general, senninbari are believed to bestow courage, good luck, and even immunity from injury—particularly from bullets—upon their wearers. Some Japanese soldiers, however, reject this idea of protection but believe that this element of luck may simply allow them to inflict more damage on the enemy before sacrificing their lives in battle. Other soldiers wear the senninbari to honor the women of their country. A senninbari must be made by the women in a man’s life—his mother, sister, or wife, if he is married—who go to the local temple, the train station, or a department store and ask every woman who passes by to sew a single stitch. Thousand-stitch vest. Very attractive white cotton vest. The red circle of the Japanese flag is made of appliqué red cotton fabric. It features rear fastenings. The thousand sewn stitches have been replaced by painted kanji. Some wear, patina, and stains are present. Condition II plus. A senninbari haramaki is regarded as a lucky charm that brings good fortune or strength to the soldier wearing it. Such items are generally believed to bring courage and luck, and even protection against wounds—especially bullets. Some Japanese soldiers rejected this belief in protection but considered that the luck might allow them to inflict greater damage on the enemy before sacrificing their lives in battle. Others wore a senninbari to honor the women of their country. A senninbari was to be made by women close to the soldier—such as his mother, sister, or wife, if married. They would visit a local temple, train station, or department store and ask each passing woman to sew a single stitch.