Dress and Appearance
Dai Nippon Teikoku Rikugun Daisan Shoutai
Imperial Japanese Army Third Platoon
This section will explain how to wear the uniform, gear and equipment,
and weapons for parade dress/inspection. All information concerns
enlisted ranks. All uniforms and equipments shall be clean, and in
serviceable condition. Photos coming soon.
Helmet: The helmet will be worn straight and center without the cap for
inspection purposes. The chin straps must be secured in the army
manner, with the knot on the left/right side of the face (depending on
which way you hold your rifle) or bottom of the chin (if you have short
chin straps) . The remainder of the ties are to be neatly tucked under
the taught chin straps.
Cap: A cap is not worn during inspection unless the soldier does not
have a helmet present.
Tunic: The tunic shall be worn with collar closed. All buttons will be
closed and fastened. If the tropical tunic is being worn, the flank flaps
must be closed and fastened.
Trousers: The trousers shall be worn waist high. The waist ties are to
be neatly concealed once tied.
Belt: The belt will be worn with the buckle lined up evenly in between
the fourth and fifth buttons while maintaining a proper gig line. The belt
keeper will line up with the left breast pocket button.
Puttees: The puttees will be worn the proper army dress manner, with
the end of the individual puttee meeting the seam line on the side of the
trouser leg. The ties are to be fixed according to style (continually
wrapped for the short version, "X" for the long version).
Boots: Boots shall be clean and polished. Bootlaces must be laced in
accordance with army instruction; laced as two bars at the bottom.
Backpack: All external gear is to be secured to the backpack neatly
and properly. The raincoat is preferred to the blanket equipped on
your pack, though either/or is acceptable. The shelter-half, tent poles,
and tent pegs are to be rolled together and placed above the
raincoat/blanket. The entrenching spade, handle, and carrier are to be
in the collapsed state and secured to the left-side of the pack (alt. It
may be placed above theshelter-half/raincoat on the web backpack).
Work shoes are to be fixed to the right-side of the pack. The rice
cooker is secured in the center of the pack.
Open Ranks Inspection
=Order of Dress=
-Fundoshi and undershirt-
-Trousers-
-Socks- Your socks will go over the trouser leg if wearing puttees
-Boots, tunic, cap-
*Tips*
The tropical shirts, undershirts, shorts, etc. are for informal/work duty
wear only! They are not appropriate for walk-out dress or inspection!
When wearing your gear mind the canteen. Make sure the stopper
doesn't get stuck under your belt when you are suiting up. This
problem is encountered frequently.
Do not forget to pass the bayonet retaining strap through your frog and
belt and securely button it.
Your front ammo pouches should be flush against the belt buckle. The
rear ammo pouch is placed over the left buttocks, and the haversack
and canteen are placed over the right.
Hygiene and Appearance
The IJA/IJN wore buzz cuts. Keep your hair short! Do not let your hair
exceed 1 inch in length, 1 inch in bulk, and it should not touch your ears
or collar. Sideburns are forbidden. A soldier must shave at least once
China the Manchurian style "neck-beard", the moustache is
discouraged and the Manshu beard is forbidden within the 3PLT.
Finger and toenails should be cleaned and trimmed properly.
Wash hands before eating. Brush teeth after every meal if possible.
Underwear should be changed everyday with a fresh pair.
Soldiers deployed to the field or engaged in heavy duty should change
socks twice a day if possible.
Remember to ex foliate if possible, especially when washing.
For the Westerner reenacting as a Japanese soldier, keep in mind that
washing and bathing are two different things. When you wash, you are
cleaning the body. When you bathe, you are soaking the body (for
bathroom etiquette.
In general it is polite to wear separate slippers/scuffles for indoor use
specifically at barracks, home, etc. to keep the area free of outdoor dirt
and debris. Wear separate slippers for the toilet/bathroom for hygiene.
Wear separate footwear for outdoor use.
The exception being for instance, is stepping into the field office at the
front lines wearing your combat boots.