Similar to their Great Power counterparts, the Japanese developed alternative uniforms for service in different climates, such as the substitute winter jerkin we covered previously. While the main uniform revision systems conducted in Showa 5 (1930), Showa 13 (1938), and Showa 18 (1943) had summer (cotton) and winter (wool) variants, complete with summer and winter coats and underwear, there was a need to address more extreme climates and temperatures. These systems were trialed and developed specifically to alleviate and reduce environment related casualties and increase the comfort of the average soldier. This article examines the development and use of the anti-heat uniform (防暑衣), commonly mis-translated as the “tropical” uniform and/or incorrectly ascribed to the anti-heat juban only. The direct translation and reference is akin to anti-heat stroke protection equipment, and meant for any environment the army deemed high risk for heat casualties, not just the tropics. For purposes of brevity, we will only delve into the uniform regulations used for the Second-Sino Japanese War and the Asia-Pacific War, ignoring the experimental pre-Showa 5 uniforms. Also this article primarily focuses on the anti-heat tunics, with future focus on sun-hats and juban in its own space and a potential for blog style posts related to the less common pieces.
Despite Japan’s erroneous wartime attribute of being biologically better equipped for tropical environments, a majority of mainland Japan is actually a rather temperate climate, not distinctly different from environments familiar to Western Armies. [1]“See: Judith A. Bennett, Natives and Exotics: World War II and Environment in the Southern Pacific (Honolulu: Univ. of Hawaiʻi Press, 2009), General Information on Climate of Japan,” General … Continue reading As such, the Japanese Army recognized the need for hot weather service uniforms taking notes from the colonial troops of other Great Powers such as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. In order to combat heat exhaustion and improve the performance and comfort of combat troops in high heat environments, the Japanese Army authorized the Sho5 model anti-heat uniform in tandem with the major 1930 overhaul of the Meiji 45 regulations.
The material color and construction is similar to the regular Sho5 summer tunic, featuring a two-piece design back and khaki-green unsai fabric. The uniform retained full length sleeves and the densely woven material to aid with protection against UV and abrasion. The anti-heat model featured a stand-and-fall style collar instead of the traditional standing collar that could be worn open during marching and other strenuous activities increasing user comfort and allowing better ventilation of the body. It also included the addition of open top patch pockets around the waist, altered the chest pockets to a pleated flap style and attached a flap air-vent under the armpit for extra ventilation. Insignia configurations coincided with the regulation changes. Early issue use of the Sho5 Anti-Heat notably includes the swallow tail collar rates for identifying branches giving the tunic a rather unique aesthetic. Ranks were attached to the shoulders via loops in the Sho5 system style.
Details of an original Showa5 uniform dated Showa 6 (1931) Author’s Collection
Pre-1937, the tunics were commonly seen among units garrisoned in colonial Formosa (modern day Taiwan), typically in conjunction with the Sho5 sunhat and a detachable collar/collar liner. Formosa served as the Army’s testbed for many of the hot weather equipment given the climate. While war broke out in 1937, most of the initial action took place in Northern China with generally lower heat indexes. However, as the army drove south chasing the collapsing Kuomintang (KMT) Army in 1938 and 1939, heat became an issue with temptures as high as 103*F and cholera ripping throught the army ranks at the peak of the Wuhan Offensive, eventually forcing the army to halt combat operations. [2]Mark R. Peattie, Edward J. Drea, and Van de Ven Hans J., The Battle for China: Essays on the Military History of the Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945 (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2013), 34. Heat continued to dog the army throught the remainder of the campaign and into Changsha with General Okamura of the Eleventh Army noting that Japanese forces had to fight three enemies during the battle: “the Chinese forces, the terrain, and the heat.” [3]ibid. 214. As such, it should come as no surprise that the anti-heat model was utilized in relatively large quantities for many of these campaigns alonside the standard model. Similarly, images from the Southern China front also showcase heavy usage of the tunic, such as the occupation of Hainan Island and the Canton Operation.
The introduction of the Type 98 uniform system in 1938 also brought revisions to climate specific equipment. [4]“Revising standards regarding clothing and accessories according to Army Uniform System, Article 5” Japan Center for Asian Historical Records (JACAR) Ref.C01001561600, Dainikki, Koshu, 1938 … Continue reading The Showa 13 model Anti-Heat uniform is visually quite similar to its predecessor with a few improvements. It still featured a stand and fall collar that could be hooked, pleated chest pockets, extra vents, etc.
The primary difference was the open top patch pockets on the waist were replaced with regular flap patch pockets similar to those featured on the type 98 uniform which helped secure contents and keep debris out. Additionally, many of these tunics had the loops removed for the sho5 shoulder ranks as the army transitioned to the Type 98 collar ranks and the collar branch rates were replaced by the chest “M” rate. However, due to the ongoing and expanding war in China, the Japanese Army did not completely transition uniforms until 1940. As such, it is not uncommon to see the Sho13 model with Sho5 ranks during this transition period.
Likewise the Sho13 tunic never completely replaced the Sho5 model with both seeing service in the Asia-Pacific War. With a full kit, especially the ammunition pouches, distinguishing the two in period photos is borderline impossible. That being said, the Sho13 model generally appears to be the more common of the two. Aside from the vast, stalemated China front garrisons, the Sho13 model saw heavy use in Indochina (1940), Burma (1941-45), Malaysia & Singapore (1941-42), Philippines (1941-45), and numerous other campaigns. It is quite rare however to see complete units issued with the tunic but photographic evidence of these campaigns is thin at best. Aside from garrison photos, we have found the proportion to be around one in ten frontline soldiers who were issued an anti-heat tunic during the 1940-42 campaign with the remainder using Type 98s. Again, there is much speculation in this figure. The anti-heat tunic could also be paired with the anti-heat trousers/shorts which ended just below the knee cap and was widely seen in the Pacific and SouthEast Asia fronts
As the war continued to expand in 1943-44, the Japanese Army again revised the anti-heat equipment in Showa 17. [5]“４．陸達第１８号 昭和１７年４月１日 昭和５年陸達第８号中左の通改正す” Japan Center for Asian Historical Records (JACAR) Ref.C12120648800, 陸達綴 … Continue reading This model departed from previous iterations with a simplified design as well as additional field related improvements. Given that the purpose of these tunics was to help mitigate heat casualties, the collar was now made to be worn open permanently, removing the redundant collar hooks which helped save material and construction costs. The chest pockets became regular patch pockets, losing their pleated construction. Many of these tunics featured bakelite or wooden buttons instead of metal, both as a material shortage and for their resistance to corrosion in tropical environments. Color still remained the khaki-green and constructed with the same unsai material and still featured the under armpit vents.
Regulation Outline for the S17 tunic, note the open collar on the diagram
The usage of the Sho17 tunic is quite minimal despite being approved and introduced in 1942. With the war widened to its pinnacle, and Japanese transport vessels already under assault by allied surface and air assets, supplies were slow to reach frontline units far from the mainland—if they reached units at all. Additionally, photographic evidence takes a steep dive following Midway and Guadalcanal making it difficult to track overall usage with most photos falling into combat casualties categories. Generally, this tunic may have seen combat service late in 1944 and into 1945 in limited quantities. Most of the photos we have are of garrisoned units close to the mainland, which matches with the overall lack of supply and transport ability. This uniform is the most common model that circulates in collector circles, usually as a “tropical tunic” with plenty of new-old stock surfacing on the market, reinforcing the lack of use and issuing the uniform system saw during wartime.
A more-or-less final revision was made to the anti-heat system based on field experiences. The khaki-green color proved poorly suited for the lush greens of tropical environments, leaving soldiers exposed and silhouetted. As such, the Army adopted a deep green dye to assist with camouflage. The existing Type 3 trousers, anti-heat 2 / 3 underwear and the sho17 anti-heat tunic were all modified to this green color—even the puttees were supposed to be darkened to a new green! In theory, all of the pieces were meant to be issued to an individual and not mixed with other equipment. Like the regular Sho17, the new tropical uniform saw little if any combat service. There is almost zero definitive photographic evidence of it in use, however it was rumored that some units in Indochina were equipped with them and some photos of Viet Minh troops in 1945-46 appear to don a suspiciously similar uniform. The complete uniform system is somewhat rare to find with an occasional new-old stock surfacing in collections.
References
| ↑1 | “See: Judith A. Bennett, Natives and Exotics: World War II and Environment in the Southern Pacific (Honolulu: Univ. of Hawaiʻi Press, 2009), General Information on Climate of Japan,” General Information on Climate of Japan (Japan Meteorological Agency, January 31, 2020), https://www.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/cpd/longfcst/en/tourist.html. |
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| ↑2 | Mark R. Peattie, Edward J. Drea, and Van de Ven Hans J., The Battle for China: Essays on the Military History of the Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945 (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2013), 34. |
| ↑3 | ibid. 214. |
| ↑4 | “Revising standards regarding clothing and accessories according to Army Uniform System, Article 5” Japan Center for Asian Historical Records (JACAR) Ref.C01001561600, Dainikki, Koshu, 1938 (National Institute for Defense Studies), 25-27. |
| ↑5 | “４．陸達第１８号 昭和１７年４月１日 昭和５年陸達第８号中左の通改正す” Japan Center for Asian Historical Records (JACAR) Ref.C12120648800, 陸達綴 昭和１６～１８年 (National Institute for Defense Studies) |
