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Japan. Imperial Japanese Army Military Passport (Guntai Techō) of Second Class Soldier Taro Kimicharo, 10th Company, 39th Battalion, 6th Infantry Division
The Japanese Military Passport, known as Guntai Techō (軍隊手帳), was a personal identification booklet issued to every soldier of the Imperial Japanese Army during the first half of the 20th century, especially throughout World War II. This booklet accompanied the serviceman during his entire military career, serving as a combination of personal record, service log, and official identification document, indispensable for any procedure within the military hierarchy.
Inside the Guntai Techō were recorded the soldier’s personal details — name, rank, unit, address, religion, and blood type — along with his service record, promotions, decorations, assigned weapons, vaccinations, and medical notes. Each soldier was required to memorize the contents of this document.
This particular passport belonged to Second Class Soldier Taro Kimicharo, who served in the 10th Company, 39th Battalion, 6th Infantry Division. The document contains information about his service between Taisho 9 (1921) and Taisho 14 (1926), and later between Showa 2 (1927) and Showa 4 (1929). It is likely that he also took part in World War II, although further details could not be translated from the document.
