WWII Imperial Japanese Army Cavalry 21st Regiment Taisho 1924 Photo Album For Sale

This is an original Taisho 13 (1924) Imperial Japanese Army cavalry service photo album, made to commemorate discharge from Cavalry 21st Regiment, 1st Company, 5th Squad.

The cover states:

• Taisho 13 Discharge Commemoration
• Cavalry 21st Regiment, 1st Company, 5th Squad

This is an especially interesting piece because it belongs to the Japanese cavalry tradition, a branch that once stood alongside infantry and artillery as one of the army’s core combat arms.

In the Imperial Japanese Army, cavalry units were responsible for:

• reconnaissance
• messenger duty
• rapid movement
• mounted attack operations

They were not just decorative horse units. They were a serious battlefield arm of mobility and shock.

What makes this album more important is its timing.

By the Taisho era, cavalry was already entering its final historical phase. After World War I, modern armies increasingly shifted toward mechanization, and traditional horse cavalry began to disappear. Because of that, albums like this preserve the image of a military branch that would soon fade from frontline history.

Cavalry 21st Regiment was based in Okayama, and notably, the regiment was abolished in 1925, only about a year after this album was made. That gives this piece added historical weight, as it was produced near the end of the regiment’s existence.

The album includes:

• group portraits of enlisted cavalrymen
• mounted formation photographs
• officers and command-related portraits
• barracks / gate / military facility scenes
• roster pages with names and home prefectures

The roster pages are particularly valuable because they turn this from a simple souvenir album into a more personal historical record tied to real soldiers.

Why this is rare:

• privately made / limited-distribution discharge commemorative item
• cavalry material is much less common than standard infantry material
• Taisho-era military photo albums survive in smaller numbers
• the regiment itself was later abolished

Condition:

There is age-related wear including stains, foxing, tears, edge wear, and replaced binding string. Please check the photos carefully for condition.

For collectors of Imperial Japanese Army militaria, cavalry history, pre-WWII Japan, and named unit material, this is a very appealing and uncommon historical album.

Own a Piece of History.

Fedex or Japan post

Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to offerding or buying.

Thank you for your understanding.