The personal flag of Suzuki Soroku who was the Chief of the Army General Staff from March 2, 1926 - February 19, 1930. The translation of the Kanji on this flag is "Mito tamura Defense of the father land (meaning defense of Japan) Army General Soroku Suzuki". The Chief of the Army General Staff was the senior ranking uniformed officer in the Imperial Japanese Army and enjoyed, along with the War Minister, the Navy Minister, and the Chief of the Navy General Staff, direct access to the Emperor. In wartime, the Imperial Army General Staff formed part of the army section of the Imperial General Headquarters, an ad hoc body under the supervision of the emperor created to assist in coordinating overall command. The Chief of the Army General Staff, with direct access to the emperor could operate independently of the civilian government. Seventeen officers held the rank of Chief of the Army General Staff between1879 and 1945. The American Occupation authorities abolished the Imperial Army General Staff in September 1945. This flag has been archivally framed with each strand of fringe seperately sewn to the backing. The flag, with fringe extended measures 41.5" x 37.5" and is housed in a 45.5" x 41.5" frame. The body of the flag is silk. There are a few small tears in the flag. An historically significant flag. excellent.