Philippine Bolo

Battara · 8th April 2020, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ren Ren

In the auxiliary units of the Japanese Imperial Army, not only the Japanese served, but also the peoples from the occupied countries. Or I'm wrong?

There were some collaborators, but most of the people hated the Japanese soldiers and government, especially if you include little things like forced labor,
forcing girls from 10 years old to women of 40 to become "comfort women" to "serve" the Japanese soldiers, and other atrocities from the minute they arrived. They hated them so much that Filipinos, Moros, and all tribes united fought against them (instead of each other). My 10 year old father had to flee with my lolo to the forested mountains to escape forced labor camps and his little sister and my lola put dirt on their faces and dirty clothes so that the Japanese soldiers would not rape them both.

Sorry, I'll stop now. This is just to give folks a very tiny taste of that time there.

To further answer your question, many Koreans were forced to be in auxiliary units, and perhaps others.

Ren Ren · 9th April 2020, 12:19 AM

Thank you for answer, Battara! Believe me, I didn’t want to offend your feelings - we in Russia know well how the invaders behaved in the occupied territory.

But I would like to return to the Japanese soldier "service records bag". From the information that I could find in Russian and English, it follows that this was an important thing, which was not only the subject of military ammunition. For the Japanese reservist, the bag was a symbol of his connection with the Army - he was kept in a place of honor in the house in the wall hollow "tokonoma". I suppose that decorating scabbard of the bolo with the inscription "hokobukuro", its owner wanted to show his connection with the Japanese Army. But the Japanese soldier had nothing to do for this - he had his own genuine bag. This was probably done by a person who was not so familiar with Japanese rules and customs.

Battara · 10th April 2020, 04:19 AM

Oh no offense taken. The Nazi's were insanely brutal occupiers to the Russians as well, unfortunately.

tanaruz · 11th April 2020, 10:19 AM

Hi Friends,

Great info! Very much appreciated. This piece will be in my private gallery (along with about 250+ blades; moro, lumad, visayas, luzon and foreign swords). I was just afraid that once I have displayed it (as a conversational piece), I may not be able to answer and share why a Lumad kaolo blade has Japanese markings

Again many thanks and hope you are all well. Keep safe!

Yves

tanaruz · 12th April 2020, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Oh no offense taken. The Nazi's were insanely brutal occupiers to the Russians as well, unfortunately.

Hi friends.

additional info on the kaolu bolo:

1) blade: flat on one side, then convex on the other side with strong beveled edge (chisel grind,right?)

2) pics of the RED characters and other characters on the scabbard and on the blade itself.

Thanks and be safe everyone.

Yves

Ren Ren · 13th April 2020, 10:15 PM

Thanks for these pics! What I see, in my opinion, was written by three different people.
Red characters 章書記 are read in Japanese Akira shoki - a secretary / clerk named Akira, in Chinese Zhang shuji with the same meaning. Combined with the inscription "service records bag" is a bit like humor?
The character on the blade 昋 is read in Chinese Gui and means the surname (also possible 吞 surname Tun), in the Japanese dictionary I did not find these characters.
The characters on the handle are difficult to read, I will deal with them later.

Ian · 14th April 2020, 10:07 AM

I don't recall seeing a Kaolu blade with a chisel grind before.

Then again, my experience with Kaolu blades is pretty limited.

Maybe it's Visayan. A very interesting bolo in many respects! Maybe some of our Filipino experts have some other ideas.

Ian.

Sajen · 14th April 2020, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

I don't recall seeing a Kaolu blade with a chisel grind before.

Then again, my experience with Kaolu blades is pretty limited.

Maybe it's Visayan. A very interesting bolo in many respects! Maybe some of our Filipino experts have some other ideas.

Hi Ian,

Have had similar thoughts and I agree, it could very well a Visayan bolo, this handle style is common there as well.

Regards,
Detlef

11th April 2020, 10:19 AM	#4
tanaruz Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 276	philippine bolo Hi Friends, Great info! Very much appreciated. This piece will be in my private gallery (along with about 250+ blades; moro, lumad, visayas, luzon and foreign swords). I was just afraid that once I have displayed it (as a conversational piece), I may not be able to answer and share why a Lumad kaolo blade has Japanese markings Again many thanks and hope you are all well. Keep safe! Yves

14th April 2020, 10:07 AM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,453	Just gets more curious I don't recall seeing a Kaolu blade with a chisel grind before. Then again, my experience with Kaolu blades is pretty limited. Maybe it's Visayan. A very interesting bolo in many respects! Maybe some of our Filipino experts have some other ideas. Ian. Last edited by Ian; 14th April 2020 at 01:17 PM.

9th April 2020, 12:19 AM	#2
Ren Ren Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Russia, Moscow Posts: 379	Thank you for answer, Battara! Believe me, I didn’t want to offend your feelings - we in Russia know well how the invaders behaved in the occupied territory. But I would like to return to the Japanese soldier "service records bag". From the information that I could find in Russian and English, it follows that this was an important thing, which was not only the subject of military ammunition. For the Japanese reservist, the bag was a symbol of his connection with the Army - he was kept in a place of honor in the house in the wall hollow "tokonoma". I suppose that decorating scabbard of the bolo with the inscription "hokobukuro", its owner wanted to show his connection with the Japanese Army. But the Japanese soldier had nothing to do for this - he had his own genuine bag. This was probably done by a person who was not so familiar with Japanese rules and customs.

10th April 2020, 04:19 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,308	Oh no offense taken. The Nazi's were insanely brutal occupiers to the Russians as well, unfortunately.

13th April 2020, 10:15 PM	#6
Ren Ren Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Russia, Moscow Posts: 379	Thanks for these pics! What I see, in my opinion, was written by three different people. Red characters 章書記 are read in Japanese Akira shoki - a secretary / clerk named Akira, in Chinese Zhang shuji with the same meaning. Combined with the inscription "service records bag" is a bit like humor? The character on the blade 昋 is read in Chinese Gui and means the surname (also possible 吞 surname Tun), in the Japanese dictionary I did not find these characters. The characters on the handle are difficult to read, I will deal with them later.