WW II Japanese One Thousand Stitch Belt (Senninbari Haramaki)

This type of belt was worn by the soldier around his waist under his uniform. The belt was worn for protection in battle. This was symbolic since this could not stop a bullet. During WW II, Japanese women would stand in public places such as train stations and stores asking other Japanese women to place one stitch on the belt. Usually red thread was used because red symbolised good luck. On this particular belt you cannot see the stitches because they were sewn on a green piece of material and then sewn between the front piece of material of the belt and the back piece. You can feel them through the material. The kanji is hand brushed on the center of the belt.