About the Uniform
The Type 98 uniform was introduced in 1938, and worn as standard officer dress from the Second Sino-Japanese War through the Pacific War. It featured a stand and fall collar. While enlisted troops and non-commissioned officers were issued with uniform, officers were expected to ready their own. Officers were also required to use their own sword, which led to a plethora of different lengths, shapes, tsuba hand guards and so on. Some blades were kept in leather scabbards, while others used bound cloth grips. Privately-owned pistols were often carried.