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When did the Japanese wear green and when brown?

Discussion in 'Japanese WWII Uniforms and Equipment' started by Garuda, Feb 24, 2020.

  1. Garuda

    Garuda New Member

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    At which season did they wear green and in which seasons did they wear brown?Did they wear blue during like the Kuomintang during the Sino-Japanese war? I searched the net but there were no specifics.
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2020
  2. Garuda

    Garuda New Member

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    Oh sorry. I meant "did they wear blue during the winter like the Kuomintang did during the Sino-Japanese war?"I missed out the word "winter".
     
  3. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    To the best of my knowledge the blue uniform was done away with between 1905-1911.

    The winter uniform was wool, summer was made of cotton. There was a variation in the khaki color dependent on maker.
     
  4. Garuda

    Garuda New Member

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    You mean they always wear khaki colored uniform regardless of the season?

    I found this page [TMP] "WWII japanese uniform color" Topic and there was a comment :"I believe that Japanese uniforms were green in temperate climates (home islands, Manchuria), but they had a lightweight, khaki-colored one for tropical settings, like Burma and most of the south pacific islands." What do you think about it?
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2020
  5. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    From what I can glean reading in the Handbook On Japanese Military Forces, Louisiana State University Press, 1991 on page 348:
    "Aside from obsolete undress an special officer's summer dress uniforms, there are 2 distinct types of regular Japanese uniforms used in temperate regions: the model 90 (1930) and the model 98 (1938). Both types have woolen winter and cotton summer versions. There are no governmental issue officer's uniforms; therefore, even within each type, these vary considerably from each other in cut, color, and material."
     
  6. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    The "official" color of the Japanese uniform was olive green. But variations in the manufacturing process(dyeing) led to a wide variation in colors from greenish tan to green to dark olive drab.

    The Japanese did have a tropical uniform. Early issues were tan/khaki, but medium to dark green became more common.

    Source: Japanese Infantryman 1937-45: Sword of the Empire by Osprey Publishing, 2006.
     
  7. Garuda

    Garuda New Member

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    I'm doing a homemade animation covering the defense of Sihang warehouse and the Battle of Wuhan. So for Sihang warehouse section I portray the Japanese wearing M-1930 olive green uniform and Battle of Wuhan section I portray the Japanese wearing M-1938 also olive green. Is that depiction accurate?
     
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2020
  8. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    Hard to say. While production of the M-1930 ended, the IJA would still have issued out existing stocks. With the M-1938 just beginning to be issued, I doubt that most of the troops would have received the new uniform.

    I'd suspect most of the troops would still have the older uniform. However, look at period photos to be sure.
     

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