KKyoto

Hey, I need help with search of a news article

  • December 27, 2025

Hi everyone,
I’m from Germany and currently writing a research paper. During my research I came across a photograph that allegedly shows Adolf Hitler wearing a kimono. At first I assumed it was fake, but I found several historical references suggesting that Hitler did receive a ceremonial kimono with a swastika from a Japanese delegation in the 1930s (including reports in Australian newspaper https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11890063 and articles describing the production of such a kimono).
Because of this, I am trying to verify whether a specific Japanese newspaper article often cited online together with this photo is authentic.
The newspaper in question is 京都日日新聞 (Kyoto Nichi Nichi Shimbun), dated either
昭和12年11月24日 (24 November 1937) or possibly 昭和12年12月24日 (24 December 1937).
Unfortunately, I don’t speak Japanese and I don’t have Japanese contacts who could help me access local archives.
I wanted to ask if anyone here might be able to:
• check a library collection, or
• confirm whether a scan exists online, or
• provide guidance on how this article can be verified
I will attach the image that is circulating online for reference.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!

by Decent_Engine_6066

4 comments

  1. Unfortunately you’re likely a bit late for anyone to help you look into physical archives – I believe most, if not all, archival institutions will be closed this week due to the holidays.
    If you don’t get any hits, try re-upping in a week or so

  3. I might be able to double check this in a couple of weeks (though I think I’m going to have to postpone my trip so am not sure). But from what you’ve posted, it seems possible to at least explain a couple of things.

    1) the first photograph does appear to be from the Kyoto Nichinichi Shinbun from November 24, 1937. However, it does not show a photograph of Hitler but a portrait. I was able to find the same portrait from the Asahi Newspaper from June 6, 1937 (presumably before it was mounted as a hanging scroll). The article says it was painted by 林東文 though I’ve not found a standard way to romanize his name (presumably something like Hayashi Tōbun or Hayashi Azumabumi?) from Monji in Kyushu.

    2) I think *separate from this* there was also a kimono (紋服) made for and sent to Hitler (second photo). It appears to be made by a spinner with the family name of Asami (阿佐美) but there wasn’t much other information on the photograph (there may be other information if you have more pages).

    3) I thin these two separate things have been conflated: 1) a portrait was painted of Hitler in Japanese dress (for which he did not pose) and 2) a similar seeming piece of dress was sent to him (which he may or may not have ever worn).

    https://preview.redd.it/hg04z08y9v9g1.png?width=430&format=png&auto=webp&s=3cb87b1957e143e22bcc0917f1a5b83a9191705f

  4. [京都日日新聞 | NDL Search | National Diet Library](https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/en/books/R100000002-I000010078769?page=2&select=1693571#archive)
    National diet library own that news paper on the date, though someone accidentally borrow exactly those period one, so maybe you must wait a little bit
    you can ask them to send you physical copy or PDF
    [9-1. Remote Photoduplication Service (courier or postal mail) | NDL Search | National Diet Library](https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/en/help/remotecopy)
    [9-2. Remote Photoduplication Service (PDF file download) | NDL Search | National Diet Library](https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/en/help/pdfdownload)
    Also, today, the newspaper seemed to change their name to Kyoto Shinbun
    [京都新聞デジタル　京都・滋賀のニュースサイト](https://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/)

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