Although there is a link bar to the left, it does not link
directly to each page, so I have created a SITE MAP. Here
you can access any page quickly.
This site is to help everyone enjoy the exciting hobby of collecting military sake cups and bottles from Imperial Japan.
I have designed a few pages to show common kanji and common symbols that appear on Japanese military cups. Let me know what you think!
I also have cups and other items for sale, so please check these out as well. (Note that any items not on the Store pages have either been sold already or are not currently for sale.)
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There are three good books on Japanese military cups:
Dan King's Japanese Military Sake Cups 1894-1945
Mutsuki Kato's HEITAI SAKAZUKI (SOLDIERS' CUPS)
Richard Fuller's Japanese Military Sake Cups
All three are essential for the cup collector, but Kato's book is in
Japanese.
Identifying kanji here is my main concern, but also distinguishing
different symbols and insignia is very important.
Since I am merely an amateur historian, I use a lot of different
sources, some of which may turn out to be dubious. If I get
anything wrong, drop me a line.
From a military shop advertisement, which ran to five pages.
Printed in the 1930s. Check out the tank cup on the bottom
right!
See more detail from this pamphlet by clicking the link below.
1930s pamphlet
You are Visitor #
FREE SHIPPING on all orders over 1500 yen from my STORE !
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Two single-cup boxes for 5.5 cm cups.
Similar designs. Made of thin cardboard.
See more packages here.
1930s or 40s magazine cover.
Here are some packages that are considerably thinner than the cardboard
boxes. They are actually a kind of sturdy rice paper. It seems quite clear that
these were meant to be disposed of after bringing the cups home. They have
thin paper flaps on either end that do not hook together, so the cups would
have a tendency to slip right out if not handled carefully.
Various bottles (tokkuri)
I am a licensed antique dealer here in Japan, and this site has been
registered and approved by the Japanese Police Department,
Fukuoka City, South Ward.
Here is the information that is required to be posted by Japanese
law:
Licensed by: Fukuoka-ken Koan I-in-kai
License Number: 909990040523
Licensee: Richard Catalano
I have a newsletter/listing alert email. The main purpose of
this is to let people know when new cups have been listed. If
you are interested, send me your email.
Japanese soldiers at a drinking party.
Pre-WW2 postcard labeled 'Celebratory Sake Cup.'
Note not only the over-sized sake cup but also the large metal box the sake is poured from!
One of the rarer soldier design cups.
Inscribed '4th Engineer, Discharge
Commemorative.'
3 soldiers manning a cannon. Detailed design, excellent coloring.
Inscribed 'Furlough Commemorative, Field Artillery 22nd Regiment, Morimoto.'
Search the Web here
Lacquered wood cup with a gold gilt
Emperor's standard. These rarely
appear on sake cups and indicate a
direct connection with the Emperor.
This is also a named warship cup.
Inscribed 'Taisho 11 [1922] Empress
Consort Her Imperial Highness
[Boarding the Vessel?]
Commemorative, Destroyer Fuji.'
Note that this ship is not the
Battleship Fuji, which uses different
kanji.
Check out my site about Japanese medals!
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