0 $0.00

Japanese Wartime Paper Toy Gas Mask (1930s-40's) (Japan)

$95.00
Image 1 of Japanese Wartime Paper Toy Gas Mask (1930s-40's) (Japan)
Image 2 of Japanese Wartime Paper Toy Gas Mask (1930s-40's) (Japan)
Image 3 of Japanese Wartime Paper Toy Gas Mask (1930s-40's) (Japan)
Image 4 of Japanese Wartime Paper Toy Gas Mask (1930s-40's) (Japan)
Image 5 of Japanese Wartime Paper Toy Gas Mask (1930s-40's) (Japan)
Image 6 of Japanese Wartime Paper Toy Gas Mask (1930s-40's) (Japan)
1 / 6
1 of 6
View cart

This unusual and haunting piece of wartime ephemera is a Japanese children’s paper toy gas mask, dating to the late 1930s–early 1940s. Printed in Japan during the buildup and height of World War II, these masks reflect both the militarization of daily life and the effort to normalize preparedness drills for civilians—even children.

The mask is printed with crisp Japanese text and illustrated with a stylized soldier’s helmet and respirator. The design includes perforations still fully intact, allowing it to be punched out and worn like a real mask. Measuring 6 x 8.5 inches, it was intended for children, blending the playful quality of a toy with the sobering reality of wartime culture.

Origin: Japan

Date: 1930s–40s (World War II era)

Format: Paper toy gas mask, perforated cutout

Size: Approx. 6 x 8.5 inches

Condition: Excellent for its age, with bright colors and all perforations intact.