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Photos courtesy of
California State University, Sacramento
Japanese American Archival Collection
This Month's Highlight of California Collections
Courtesy of
California State University, Sacramento
Japanese American Archival Collection
rare senninbari vest
Among the thousands of rare objects in Sacramento State University’s internationally-recognized Japanese American Archival Collection (JAAC) is a senninbari vest.
It was worn in World War II (WWII) by George Matsushita when he fought in Italy and France as a member of the Japanese-American 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
The blood stain on the front of the vest - indicating it was worn during battle – makes it extremely exceptional.
Loosely translated, senninbari means “a thousand knots,” which are all hand-tied by women. It is believed that senninbari clothing confer courage, good luck, and immunity from injury (especially bullets) to their wearers. The knots were tied by his mother when she was incarcerated at the War Relocation Authority concentration camp in Granada, Colorado (Amache).
A senninbari vest is rare enough, but it is believed that the one in the JAAC is the only surviving vest worn by a Japanese American soldier during WWII.
Most members of the 442nd destroyed their senninbari apparel because they did not want to be seen as sympathetic with – or mistaken for - Japanese Imperial Army soldiers.
It was worn in World War II (WWII) by George Matsushita when he fought in Italy and France as a member of the Japanese-American 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
The blood stain on the front of the vest - indicating it was worn during battle – makes it extremely exceptional.
Loosely translated, senninbari means “a thousand knots,” which are all hand-tied by women. It is believed that senninbari clothing confer courage, good luck, and immunity from injury (especially bullets) to their wearers. The knots were tied by his mother when she was incarcerated at the War Relocation Authority concentration camp in Granada, Colorado (Amache).
A senninbari vest is rare enough, but it is believed that the one in the JAAC is the only surviving vest worn by a Japanese American soldier during WWII.
Most members of the 442nd destroyed their senninbari apparel because they did not want to be seen as sympathetic with – or mistaken for - Japanese Imperial Army soldiers.
The JAAC is dedicated to providing a permanent research and educational resource for students, scholars, researchers and educators from around the world. The Collection provides a unique array of primary sources for the study of the Japanese American experience of immigration and settlement to the United States, WWII internment, redress, and reparations.
The JAAC is part of the University’s Donald and Beverly Gerth Special Collections & University Archives (SCUA). The collections comprise manuscripts, photographs, maps, ephemera, audio visual items, electronic resources, rare books, art, and artifacts, among others.
For more information about how to access our collections, please contact us by phone 916-278-6144 or send email to lib-scua@csus.edu.
Digital collection: Japanese American Archival Collection
Webpage: Donald and Beverly Gerth Special Collections & University Archives (SCUA)
The JAAC is part of the University’s Donald and Beverly Gerth Special Collections & University Archives (SCUA). The collections comprise manuscripts, photographs, maps, ephemera, audio visual items, electronic resources, rare books, art, and artifacts, among others.
For more information about how to access our collections, please contact us by phone 916-278-6144 or send email to lib-scua@csus.edu.
Digital collection: Japanese American Archival Collection
Webpage: Donald and Beverly Gerth Special Collections & University Archives (SCUA)
Thank you to this month's contributor!
Courtesy of
California State University – Sacrameno
Japanese American Archival Collection
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