Object Details
- Description
- The sennabari, or "thousand stitch belt," was given to Japanese servicemen by the women in his family or community as he went off to war. The belt was believed to confer good luck, courage, and protection upon its wearer. The belts were usually made of white cloth and decorated with a thousand red stitches or knots. Traditionally each knot was made by a different woman so that the making of the belts was a communal effort. This belt is about 42 inches long with ten rows of red knots.
- This item is one of over 30 medical-military objects collected by Harold B. Price, Chief Pharmacist's Mate, U.S. Navy, during his deployment in the Pacific theater during World War II. The material is all associated with the Japanese military and most of the items were collected on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll. The island was the site of intense fighting during the Battle of Tarawa, November 20-23, 1943.
- Mr. Price loaned the material to the Smithsonian in August, 1944, and it was immediately put on public display. The original loan included a Japanese microscope and accessories which were returned to Price in November 1946. The remainder of the material was retained in the collection as a permanent gift.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Harold B. Rice
- ID Number
- MG.M-05241
- catalog number
- M-05241
- accession number
- 168283
- Object Name
- amulet
- belt
- belt, military
- Physical Description
- cloth (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall, as stored (folded): 1 3/4 in x 11 in x 4 1/2 in; 4.445 cm x 27.94 cm x 11.43 cm
- place made
- Japan: Japan
- associated place
- Japan: Japan
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Medicine
- National Museum of American History
- related event
- World War II
- Record ID
- nmah_725209
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-4ec8-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
