Postcard "Japanese national anthem" ("Kimigae")

An original open letter, designed by the famous Russian artist Elena Petrovna Samokish-Sudkovskaya. The postcard was issued in Petrograd in 1914 by the publishing house "Three Flags of Consent" (printed in a lithograph of the Joint-Stock Company "Samoobrazovanie"). At the bottom of the postcard is an inscription: "For the benefit of the wounded and sick soldiers of the Great War of 1914." In the upper left corner, the national flag of Japan (Hinomaru) and the naval flag (rising sun with rays) are depicted against a seascape with warships. The frame of the postcard is decorated with traditional Japanese Art Nouveau ornaments. The artist's signature is "E. Samokish-Sudkovskaya" is located in the lower right corner of the drawing. The postcard contains the notes of the national anthem ("Largo") and the text. Russian Russian transliteration of the Japanese words is given, and below is a poetic translation into Russian ("May Your Kingdom of the Mikado last for thousands, eight thousand years ...").

In August 1914, Japan entered World War I on the side of the Entente, becoming an ally of the Russian Empire. An active campaign to promote the allied powers has begun in Russia. The Skobel Committee and other organizations produced a series of postcards with the anthems and flags of the Allied countries. Part of the proceeds from the sale of such cards went to the needs of hospitals and the Russian Red Cross Society.