Type 98 Tropical Helmet
- Patrick Phillips
- Jul 18, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 19, 2023
The Japanese military began testing and evaluating various designs of tropical headgear in the early 1900s. After years of testing various materials and comparing their sun helmet designs to contemporary styles in service with other armies, the Imperial Japanese Army finalized and accepted the Type 98 tropical helmet in 1938. Made primarily from bamboo grasses and other natural grass, the shell is woven to form the distinctive shape of the Type 98. The cover is the classic Japanese green/khaki shade with a reinforcing band sewn around the crown and either a fabric army star or metal star was affixed above this band and the inner lining is usually a dark shade of green. As with most Japanese items from the Second World War, substitute materials began to be used as the war progressed and material shortages forced the Japanese to use alternate sources. Because of material difficulties toward the end of the war, tropical helmets can be seen with almost white outer covers, and no inner lining, revealing the woven shell structure. Since it can be difficult to determine which end of the helmet is the front just by looking at the liner, there is a white Kanji ink stamp for "front" stamped on the liner at the front of the helmet.
The green inner lining was no accident. Upon testing different fabrics and colors, green was found to be very effective at absorbing infrared radiation, and would therefore aid in protecting the wearer from the intense radiation of the tropics. The suspension system is incredibly simple but very effective. It's made up of an adjustable cloth band approximately 0.75 inches wide, an adjustable cloth chinstrap, and a drawstring around the top of the inner portion of the helmet. The drawstring is used to adjust the height of the helmet as it sits on the user's head. The simple suspension arrangement keeps the helmet light and very comfortable to wear.
Three variations of the Type 98 tropical helmet exist, and in the collecting community are often referred to as "versions". All the versions are essentially the same in construction and shape, with the only real difference being ventilation holes on the sides and the top of the helmet. Version one is the earliest and has two ventilation holes made of steel grommets on either side of the helmet, and an additional ventilation hole at the top of the helmet with a protective cap. Version two is the same but with the side ventilation holes deleted. Version three has all ventilation holes deleted altogether.
Version one (left), version two (center), and version three (right). (Versions one and two, Nick Komiya, WarRelics.eu)
An interesting and unique feature of the Type 98 is that it was designed in such a way that it could be worn over the top of the standard Type 90 combat helmet. The inner drawstring could be untied and removed, the headband loosened and the helmet inserted into the sun helmet. Then the drawstring could be routed through three loops sewn to the outer brim of the liner and through the chinstrap eyelets of the steel helmet and tightened.
The Type 98 tropical helmet would see service around the Japanese empire and was quite popular with troops due to its light weight and was much more comfortable and effective than a steel helmet or field cap in hot, tropical conditions. The Type 98 was issued to both enlisted men and officers alike, however, officers had the option to privately purchase much of their equipment and uniforms, and can often be seen wearing British-style tropical pith helmets. That is a topic for another day, so stay tuned for updates! For a deep dive into the development and evolution of Japanese sun helmets, including early prototypes of the Type 98 sun helmet, please check out Nick Komiyas work at https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/japanese-militaria/evolution-japanese-imperial-army-sun-helmet-1915-1945-a-658734/.
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