Description
Original WWII-era commemorative photo album issued for service during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
The cover is titled:
“China Campaign Commemorative Photo Album”
(Shina Jihen Shussei Kinen Shashincho)
and clearly bears the designation:
“Chosen 22nd Unit” (Korean 22nd Unit / 朝鮮第二十二部隊)
indicating that the album was produced for a military unit associated with Japanese forces stationed in Korea and later deployed to the China front.
The opening pages contain portrait photographs of senior officers identified as:
- Commander Ushijima
- Commander Degishi
- Commander Shichita
along with numerous photographs documenting military personnel, field activities, and operations during the campaign.
One section is specifically titled:
“Jinnan Pacification Operation”
referring to operations conducted in southern Shanxi Province, China.
Despite extensive research, I was unable to conclusively identify the exact organizational structure of the Chosen 22nd Unit.
However, the unit designation is clearly printed throughout the album, and the contents strongly indicate that this was a commemorative publication created for members of the unit following their deployment during the China Campaign.
Rather than a commercially sold publication, albums of this type were typically distributed only to personnel connected with the unit.
Historical Background
The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) became one of the largest military commitments in Imperial Japan’s history.
Thousands of units were deployed across China, but relatively few surviving photo albums remain today.
These albums often recorded:
- Commanding officers
- Unit personnel
- Campaign routes
- Garrison life
- Military operations
and therefore serve as valuable primary-source historical documents.
Why This Album Matters
Many wartime photo albums simply show unnamed soldiers.
This example is particularly desirable because it preserves:
- A clearly identified unit name
- Senior officer portraits
- Operational photographs
- A documented campaign reference (“Jinnan Pacification Operation”)
Together these elements transform the album from a simple souvenir into a genuine historical record of a specific military formation during the China Campaign.
Condition
Shows expected age-related wear, staining, foxing, and handling marks consistent with age.
Please examine all photographs carefully for condition details.
Story Behind the Item
The Record of a Forgotten Unit
Not a famous admiral.
Not a celebrated battleship.
Instead, this album preserves the story of an ordinary military unit that crossed the sea to fight in China during one of the defining conflicts of twentieth-century Asia.
More than eighty years later, it remains a surviving witness to the lives of the men who carried it.
Own a Piece of History.
Shipping
Worldwide Shipping
International e packet
Delivery Time:
approximate 7-21days(To USA)
With Tracking Number & NO Insurance
International
Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer\'s responsibility. Please check with your country\'s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to offerding or buying.
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