I wasn't able to attend both days. I was there only Saturday but I had a lot of fun. I arrived at the event around 11:00AM which was about an hour late already. I was not wearing my uniform at the time. Good thing I bumped into a fellow Japanese reenactor at the parking lot. I jumped into my uniform and followed the other reenactor. When I arrived at our camp site. I was impressed with the layout. Our team leader Tim Kano really went all out with the camp. It was very nice. There were also several other Japanese reenactors there. Two of them I believe flew all the way from Japan and another two came all the way from Arizona.
One of the guys from Arizona, walked me through on how to put on the puttees. While I was being walked through regarding the puttees, Teddy Ortega was yelling "Makapili" in the background. By the way, I also brought my tunic with me, but it was really on the warm side that day that I decided against wearing it. I was lucky enough to buy a tropical shirt and that's what I wore throughout the day. I was really comfortable. Here's a picture of my uniform (with our camp as a backdrop).
Front view, my uniform comprised of the following (most are reproduction except where noted):
a) Field cap with havelock (neck flaps) attached.
b) Three-quarter sleeve shirt
c) Private second class rank patch attached to left pocket button
d) Type 3 cotton trousers
e) Puttees
f) Army issue boots (with hobnails)
g) Army haversack
h) Army issue belt
i) Type 98 knee mortar round ammo pouches & suspenders
j) Original type 38 carbine rifle and reproduction leather sling
Back view:
a) Army helmet with cloth cover
b) Leather webbing with 2 ammo pouches and 1 rear pouch (along with pair of mortar round pouches in front)
c) Bayonet with frog and scabbard
d) Knee mortar and carrier
e) Original type 94 canteen plus reproduction carrier
Check the background table. It has various Japanese gear on display. I had most of it but was lazy to carry it all the way from the parking lot into the camp. Plus it was hot. I'll just wear them on another photo shoot.
Here's a picture of some of the other Japanese reenactors. All of them are wearing tunics, with a different cut/style for the officer (Tim Kano).
Since Teddy was yelling "Makapili" when I arrived, I took the opportunity of paying him back with this shot
Okay, this is it for now. I'll post again some more later. Specifically about the reenactment against the U.S. Marines.
