A friend of mine has a small collection of vintage Japanese items, one of which being this military-era cigarette box. I was trying to figure out what the legible kanji mean, especially the ones on the back of the pack (my apologies, he doesn't have a very good camera). From my minimal understanding, they don't make much sense
The back kinda looks like 竒街競, but that doesn't make sense to me. Assuming that's correct in the first place (it's probably not). I'll see what else I can figure out :D
Yeah, I got the front part too, and my best guess for the back part was 竒術競. Just like you said, it's doesn't really work. I'm curious what the top two kanji are.
hi! 奇術競 is likely a Japanese folktale. There are images on google showing Japanese prints dating from 18xx about that, and from what I read in a museum website, it’s about a competition of some of the most famous magicians of the time. That’s all I could get. Also, it’s definitely 奇術 and not 街 haha.
hi! 奇術競 is likely a Japanese folktale. There are images on google showing Japanese prints dating from 18xx about that, and from what I read in a museum website, it’s about a competition of some of the most famous magicians of the time. That’s all I could get. Also, it’s definitely 奇術 and not 街 haha.
That does make a lot of sense, thanks! I though about 術, but the kanji just didn't look anything like it to me. I'm not good at reading calligraphy though XD
I read through some JP sources, and you're right — it's 奇術(きじゅつ), in the older, more mystical sense of magic/sorcery. I guess as a wider category containing 手妻 and 和妻. At least back in day (Edo). Some people seem to treat it (奇術競) as a bit of a proto-"supernatural battle manga" concept. Don't quote me on any of that though, I'm not very familiar with the subject.
The reading of the whole thing seems to be 奇術競 (きじゅつくらべ). 競 being treated like 比べ.
Assuming my reading of 憂國 is correct, we have everything :)
I think it fits the wartime context quite well. Roughly reading like "a patriotic contest of extraordinary feats". Basically older tradition/folklore rebranded for wartime.
