Letter of condolence - Imonjo

...Sacks sent from within Japan to soldiers on the battlefield as a form of comfort. They were usually cloth bags about 30cm wide and 40cm long, and contained charms for good luck in battle, medicines, tobacco, soap, canned food, and other daily necessities, as well as letters of comfort. These sometimes led to correspondence between soldiers and senders. Bags were made at home by folding hand towels in half, but were also available commercially, and ready-made bags with contents already in them were sold in department stores.

*Some of the terminology explanations that refer to "letters of comfort" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…日本の国内から戦地の将兵へ慰問のために送られた袋。ふつう横30cm，縦40cmぐらいの布袋で，中には武運長久の御守，薬品，タバコ，セッケン，缶詰などの日用品と慰問状が入れられ，それが契機となって兵士と差出人との間で文通が行われることもあった。袋は家庭で各自が手ぬぐいを二つ折りにして作るほかに市販品もあり，デパートでは中身のはいった既製品も売られていた。…

※「慰問状」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報