Victory over Japan Day on 15th August marks the surrender of Japan forces, which effectively ending the Second World War. Following VE Day, on 8 May 1945, war continued in the Asia-Pacific region and only came to an end after the devastating drop of the atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

 Image: IWM

A Look Back at some WW2 Japanese Items / Souvenir Lots sold in our latest Fine Arms, Armour & Militaria Auction :

Lot 874

WW2 Imperial Japanese Army Combat Helmet with Cover and Camouflaged Net, fine example of a standard type 90 combat helmet which retains the original tan cloth padded cover with brown wool circle cloth to the centre and yellow infantry star. The helmet is complete with the original camouflaged string net over the top of the helmet cover. Interior of the helmet has the original leather three pad liner system and leather liner band. Cloth chinstrap ties are full length. The cover has some light staining, does not appear to have been removed from the helmet since brought home as a souvenir.

This lot hammered above the auction estimate at £2,100.

View the full lot listing here.

Lot 878 

WW2 Imperial Japanese Army Tank Crew Helmet, excellent example of the brown cloth covered protective helmet issued to Japanese tank crews during WW2. Helmet has the original stitched leather Japanese army star emblem to the centre. Rope ties to both sides of the helmet. Complete with the ear flaps and chinstrap fitting. Interior of the helmet retains the original leather liner system. Issue stampings to the interior crown. Helmet is accompanied by a pair of WW2 Japanese tankers goggles with the original head strap.

This lot hammered at £840.

View the full lot listing here.

Lot 890

WW2 Japanese Army Battle Flag on Pole, printed cotton national rising sun flag with leather tabs to the corners. Mounted on a two piece flag pole with thin brass pole top.

This lot hammered above the auction estimate at £760.

View the full lot listing here.

Lot 872

WW2 Imperial Japanese Naval Landing Forces (Marines) Combat Helmet with Cover and Camouflage Net, superb example of an original WW2 Japanese type 90 combat helmet which is fitted with the original light tan cloth helmet cover with machine woven naval anchor insignia to the front. Attached to the cover is the original green string knotted camouflage netting cover which is predominantly found on the naval landing forces helmets, especially those from the early island campaigns. Interior of the helmet has the original dark brown leather three pad liner system on the leather liner band and the cloth chinstraps. The helmet cover does not appear to have ever been removed from the helmet since it was brought home as a souvenir after WW2. A superb example of a rare to find Japanese combat helmet.

This lot hammered above the auction estimate at £2,500.

View the full lot listing here.

Lot 888

WW2 Japanese Signed Battle Flag, fine example of a silk national flag of Japan with many ink signed prayers and an anti American sentiment to one prayer.

This lot hammered at £420.

View the full lot listing here.

Lot 897

Good Japanese WW2 Naval Officers Sword Katana, blade 66.9cms, signed with 4 characters and struck with the Seki Arsenal stamp, distinct gunome hamon, quite good original polish, in kyu gunto mounts with gilt brass fittings, tape bound black same tsuka, regulation black soft-metal tsuba with 3 pairs of seppas, in its saya with polished black fish-skin covering.

This lot hammered at £1,400.

View the full lot listing here.

Lot 878 

WW2 Imperial Japanese Army Tank Crew Helmet, excellent example of the brown cloth covered protective helmet issued to Japanese tank crews during WW2. Helmet has the original stitched leather Japanese army star emblem to the centre. Rope ties to both sides of the helmet. Complete with the ear flaps and chinstrap fitting. Interior of the helmet retains the original leather liner system. Issue stampings to the interior crown. Helmet is accompanied by a pair of WW2 Japanese tankers goggles with the original head strap.

This lot hammered at £840.

View the full lot listing here.

All our auction results can be found on the auction results page, or you can find featured lots under the various categories on our department pages. Items from historical events are always very popular with both private collectors and institutions. If you've any ephemera or military items from an historical event of notoriety and you'd like to know its value or perhaps consign it to us for auction, why not get in touch? Fill out an online valuation request or contact our office! ​