Inventory of 18 Individual Equipment Items for a Japanese Infantryman During the War of Resistance Against Japan

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, the weapons and equipment of the Japanese invading army were far superior to ours. Moreover, brainwashed and influenced by the bushido spirit, most Japanese soldiers displayed a desperate, fearless attitude in battle.

Not only were Japanese soldiers fierce in combat, but their individual equipment was also well-crafted and comprehensive.

 The focus of this article will be on taking inventory of the 18 personal items carried by a Japanese infantryman during the War of Resistance Against Japan.

Ⅰ.Type 98 Field Cap

In the early stages of the War of Resistance Against Japan, most Japanese soldiers wore the Type 5 Showa Service Cap (with a wide brim). However, after 1938, they began to switch to the more streamlined Type 98 Field Cap, also known as the Type 98 Infantry Combat Cap.

Compared to the earlier wide-brimmed cap, this one was simpler in craftsmanship and more practical. Japanese soldiers fighting in tropical environments usually added five strips of cloth around the cap-commonly referred to by Chinese troops as "pì liánr" (a colloquial term roughly meaning "butt flap" for its appearance). Though it looked rather odd, these five cloth strips served important purposes: they covered the neck and face to prevent mosquito and insect bites, while also effectively blocking sunlight to avoid sunburn on those areas.

Ⅱ.Type 98 Service Uniform

Before 1938, Japanese soldiers wore the Type 5 Showa Service Uniform. After 1938, however, they began to switch to the brand-new Type 98 Service Uniform. Compared to its predecessor, the Type 98 Service Uniform had few major changes, with only some minor adjustments to details.

For example, the vertical rank shoulder boards were abolished and replaced with short rank collar insignias. The small flag-shaped branch insignias previously on the collars were changed to M-shaped branch chest insignias.

In addition, the collar of the jacket was improved: the original design featured a standing collar, while the Type 98 Service Uniform adopted a folded collar similar to that of German military uniforms. It is said that this uniform was also designed to mimic German military uniforms, though the imitation was highly unsuccessful.

Ⅲ.Type 98 Canvas-Top Boots

The footwear of the Japanese military during the War of Resistance Against Japan was quite good. Even ordinary soldiers wore large leather boots made of cowhide. These boots had two styles at that time: one was the Type 5 Showa, which began to be issued in the early 1930s, and the other was the Type 98, which came into use after 1938. The two styles were basically identical in appearance, differing only in craftsmanship and materials used.

The most common style back then was the Type 98, which was also called the "Type 98 Canvas-Top Boots" by Japanese soldiers. The so-called "Canvas-Top Boots" were simply combat shoes used by soldiers for fighting. As they were often used in combat, the boots themselves were very sturdy. Additionally, the sole and upper parts had waterproof properties, with the only drawback being that they were relatively heavy.

Ⅳ.Type 98 Field Leggings

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, Japanese officers and a small number of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) were equipped with large leather boots and basically did not need to wear leggings. However, ordinary soldiers who wore canvas-top boots were required to do so.

At that time, the leggings issued to Japanese soldiers were also divided into two types: Type 5 Showa and Type 98. There was basically no difference between the two, as both were wrap-around leggings made of canvas.

The most commonly used one back then was the Type 98 Field Leggings.

Ⅴ.Infantryman's Waist Belt

There's no need to say much about the waist belt, right? It's an essential item for soldiers of any country. Firstly, it is used to fasten clothes, and secondly, it serves as an equipment carrier.

The waist belts issued to ordinary Japanese soldiers at that time were of slightly inferior workmanship compared to those of officers. They didn't look as bright on the surface, but their quality was not bad.

A soldier was generally equipped with two belts. One was used to fasten the trousers as an inner belt, and the other was worn outside to hang rifle ammunition boxes, bayonets, and other combat equipment.

Ⅵ."Taro" Satchel

Back then, every Japanese soldier was also equipped with a small satchel, which the Japanese called the "Taro" Satchel. To put it simply, it was a utility bag used to store the soldier's personal items, such as clean socks, a notebook, or other daily toiletries.

The Japanese military satchel was also made of canvas, consisting of two parts: a shoulder strap and the bag itself. During marches, soldiers would carry it diagonally across their shoulders using the strap.

Ⅶ.Type 5 Showa Knapsack

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, every soldier of the Japanese invading army usually carried a highly iconic large backpack. The Japanese military referred to it as the Type 5 Showa Marching Knapsack, which was mainly used to store various combat equipment of the soldier, such as extra ammunition, firearm maintenance tools, or explosives.

The main body of the knapsack was similar to a square box, with a wooden frame inside. It had a large internal space that could hold many items. Usually, to facilitate marching, soldiers would also tie the issued military blanket, raincoat, field canteen, or entrenching tool to the knapsack.

Ⅷ.Type 94 Field Canteen

While fighting is important, drinking water and eating are equally crucial. At that time, every Japanese soldier was equipped with a dedicated field canteen, and the most common model was the Type 94.

This canteen was made of aluminum, with an oval-shaped exterior. A wooden stopper was used directly in place of a bottle cap at the mouth of the canteen. Though it did not look very attractive, the Type 94 Canteen was quite practical and had a large capacity, holding approximately 1 liter of drinking water. Additionally, an "H"-shaped canvas shoulder strap was attached to the outside of the canteen, which made it easier for soldiers to carry during marches and battles.

Ⅸ.Type 92 Field Mess Tin

In addition to field canteens, there were also field mess tins, and the most commonly used model by Japanese soldiers at that time was the Type 92.

Similarly, the main body of the mess tin was made of aluminum and featured a four-in-one design. This meant the mess tin could be split into four parts: the main compartment could be used for soup or staple foods, the lid and the middle divider could hold side dishes or other foods, and there was also a small aluminum cup inside the mess tin, which could be used for drinking water or soup.

Ⅹ.Type 90 Steel Helmet

At that time, the Japanese military was heavily equipped with the Type 90 Steel Helmets. From ordinary soldiers to officers, basically every one had one when fighting.

The Type 90 Steel Helmet began to be used by the Japanese military in the early 1930s. After becoming the mainstay equipment, it successfully replaced the previous French-style "Sakura Helmets" and British-style Model 18 Steel Helmets.

However, in the later stages of the War of Resistance Against Japan, as Japan's domestic resources were exhausted and there was a shortage of steel, the protective capability and thickness of the steel helmets produced in the later period decreased, making them less sturdy than those produced in the 1930s.

Ⅺ.Type 99 Gas Mask

Many Japanese soldiers also carried gas masks with them. This was because they frequently used poison gas and chemical weapons to attack Chinese troops, and gas masks were issued to prevent self-injury. The model used was the Type 99.

This model was designed to mimic a certain German gas mask from World War I. It also had a filter attached to the front of the mask, with a tube inserted from the bottom. However, unlike some designs, it was not usually equipped with a metal gas mask canister; instead, it came with a canvas gas mask storage bag directly.

Ⅻ.Split-Toe Shoe

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, many soldiers of the Japanese invading army were also equipped with a pair of split-toe shoes, which were most characteristic of Japan. These shoes were mainly used interchangeably with canvas-top boots.

The soles of these split-toe shoes were made of plastic and were very thin, while the uppers were made of cotton thread fabric. Compared with the commonly used canvas-top boots, they were indeed much lighter and softer, and were well-received by Japanese soldiers at that time.

XIII.Woolen Military Blanket

Every Japanese soldier was equipped with a military blanket made of woolen fabric for field operations. If camping in the wild, the blanket helped soldiers keep out the cold more effectively.

When the blanket was not in use during marches, it would be folded in half, rolled up, and then tied to the marching knapsack for easy carrying.

XIV.Type 38 Entrenching Tool

During World War II, soldiers of almost every country were equipped with entrenching tools, and the Japanese invading army at that time was no exception. Basically, every soldier carried a Type 38 Entrenching Tool, which was mainly used to build temporary field fortifications or set up temporary camps.

Although the Type 38 Entrenching Tool looked relatively rough, its blade was very sharp. For the convenience of carrying during marches, the blade could be separated from the wooden handle, and both parts were tied to the marching knapsack together.

XV.Type 97 Hand Grenade

In terms of weaponry, each Japanese soldier usually carried 2 to 4 Type 97 Hand Grenades with them. These grenades were also known as "Xiang Gua" (Melon) Hand Grenades in China at that time.

As a type of hand grenade, Japan's Type 97 was indeed much lighter than the wooden-handled grenades used in China back then, and its compact size also made it easy for soldiers to carry.

This hand grenade had considerable power: it contained 65 grams of TNT, and its killing radius could reach 7 to 10 meters after detonation. The only drawback was that before use, soldiers had to knock it against a hard surface first before throwing it. This design was intended to allow it to be used as a mortar round as well.

XVI.Type 38 Rifle

When it comes to the most commonly used individual weapon of the Japanese invading army during the War of Resistance Against Japan, it was the Type 38 Rifle. To adapt to the northern Chinese environment and prevent the bolt from jamming, a separate dust cover was designed on the bolt. For this reason, the Type 38 Rifle was known as the "San Ba Da Gai" (Type 38 with Dust Cover) in China at that time.

This rifle fired 6.5×50mm Arisaka rifle ammunition, with a magazine capacity of 5 rounds and an effective range of 460 meters. Compared with the 7.92mm ammunition used by Chinese troops at that time, the 6.5mm caliber ammunition had less recoil, which also gave the rifle higher accuracy.

The Type 38 Rifle was also quite long: its overall length was approximately 1,280 mm without the bayonet attached. When the bayonet was fitted, the total length could exceed 1,700 mm. This length was just right for Japanese soldiers, who were relatively short in stature, to engage in close-quarters combat.

XVII.Type 30 Ammunition Pouch

Japanese soldiers equipped with the Type 38 Rifle usually also carried the Type 30 Ammunition Pouch, which served as the ammunition carrier for the Type 38 Rifle.

This type of ammunition pouch was made of cowhide. Typically, a soldier would carry three of them: two placed on the abdomen for their own use, and one larger one placed on the back for storing spare ammunition. Of course, in emergency situations, the spare ammunition could also be supplied to comrade-in-arms behind them.

For example, one of the front-mounted ammunition pouches could hold 6 five-round stripper clips, which were stored in two separate compartments-three clips in each compartment. This meant one ammunition pouch had a total capacity of 30 rounds, and two would hold 60 rounds. Naturally, soldiers would also carry additional ammunition depending on different combat situations.

XVIII.Type 30 Bayonet

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, nearly every Japanese soldier carried a bayonet. Soldiers equipped with the Type 38 Rifle used the Type 30 Bayonet, which was specifically matched to this rifle.

This bayonet had an overall length of approximately 50 centimeters. Its handle was made of wood, with a slot at the end to connect to the rifle. The blade was crafted from steel through mechanical processing, with a blood groove running down its center.

Ordinarily, the bayonet also came with a metal scabbard and a leather hanger. During marches, it could be hung from the soldier's waist via their main waist belt.

Well, that's all for the individual equipment of Japanese infantry during the War of Resistance Against Japan. If there are any mistakes or omissions in what I've covered, I hope those with more knowledge will correct and supplement it. Don't forget to follow Ao-I'll keep bringing you more practical, in-depth content.