| A heavy, thick funereal tokkuri from the Russo-Japan War. The pattern is subdued, as to be expected. Two cherry blossoms and seven falling petals, which represent the fallen soldier. The characters read 'Commemorative.' On the reverse this is inscribed: 'Deceased, Army Infantry, Holder of the 5th Class of the Rising Sun Order and 5th Class of the Golden Kite, Captain Yoshida Tosanrou, Meiji 37 [1904], November 26th, Around the Area of Port Arthur, Killed in Action [senshi].' No chips or cracks. Very rare to find such a commemorative item of any type referring to a KIA soldier. Measures about 16 cm high. |
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Killed in Action items
KIA items refers to items that specifically refer to a dead soldier
or sailor. Normally the pattern is simple and unimpressive, which
means you need to be able to read the kanji to identify these
kinds of items.
Not really sought after by collectors, probably because of the
lack of visual appeal. Yet these are highly personal and touching,
made especially for a loved one.
or sailor. Normally the pattern is simple and unimpressive, which
means you need to be able to read the kanji to identify these
kinds of items.
Not really sought after by collectors, probably because of the
lack of visual appeal. Yet these are highly personal and touching,
made especially for a loved one.
| This cup seems to have been given to a family of a dead soldier by a veteran's group. The military star is crudely drawn, though this may have been done on purpose. Inscribed 'Killed in Action, 7th Anniversary of Mourning Commemorative.' On the reverse: 'Miyagawa Military Association.' |
| Killed in Action [senbyou-shi] Byou usually refers to sickness. So this phrase actually translates as 'Die from a disease contracted at the front.' |
| Large Kutani bowl made to commemorate a deceased soldier. The pattern has finely detailed flowers in the bowl and on one side of the reverse. Inscribed: 'Deceased Army Sergeant-Major Hirata Matayuki, Holder of the 7th Class Rising Sun and the 6th Class Golden Kite, Unveiling of the Monument Made in his Honor Commemorative.' 'Monument' here might be something small, so I'm not sure what it refers to. Also, this may or may not be a KIA item since it doesn't say when he died. |
This kanji in front of a
personal name means
'deceased' but not
necessarily KIA.
personal name means
'deceased' but not
necessarily KIA.
Inscribed 'Infantry Sergeant-Major, [???]'. The 3 unknown kanji here are puzzling. A
Buddhist posthumous name?
On the reverse: 'Port Arthur, 203 Kochi, War Death.'
203 Kochi (literally, 'high land') is one of the famous spots in the Russo-Japan War. It is so
famous that a Japanese movie named 203 Kochi was released in 1981.
Anyway, it is a hill about 2 km northwest of Port Arthur. It got its name because it is 203
meters away from the sea. Because of its view of the harbor and the city, it was
considered by both the Russians and the Japanese to be the key to keeping (or taking)
Port Arthur.
In November 1904 a fierce battle for this hill took place. In 5 days the Japanese force of
15,000 had only 1000 troops left alive. However, Russian forces also were heavily
damaged and the Japanese took the hill--and eventually Port Arthur.
The cup design is simple, as KIA items usually are.
| Very rare KIA cup from the 1894-5 China war. Inscribed 'Conquer China, Soldier War Death 7 Year Anniversary Commemorative.' On the reverse: 'Aikou District.' This is in Kanagawa Prefecture. |
| Lacquered wood cup with a gold gilt Army star. The coloring of the cup in the photo doesn't look pleasing, but with the naked eye it is a nice shiny red. Inscribed with a famous militant slogan: 'The Eight Corners of the World Under One Roof' and on the reverse 'Showa 15 [1940], January 25, Captain Matsumura, Gift from the Next-of-Kin Association, China Incident Commemorative.' I imagine that this was a gift to the Captain's next-of-kin, which makes this a rare KIA cup. The box is probably the original one. The label shows that this came from a shop in Toyko (called here Keijou, that is 'capital'). |
| A KIA cup made for a deceased soldier's Buddhist ceremony. Inscribed 'Eirei-dono' in the bowl. Eirei means War Dead and dono is a formal way of 'sir.' Eirei specifically designates someone who died in the service. On the reverse: 'Japan/Russia War service, 7-Year Commemorative.' In Buddhist tradition, after someone dies the survivors have 3-year, 7-year, 20-year (and so on) celebrations to honor the departed spirits. |