| AIKOKU FUJINKAI is translated as the Patriotic Women's Association. It was a nationwide group that It was established in 1901. Originally the members were the wives of the elite classes. The membership badge is commonly found on cups. Since the association was large, these kinds of cups are fairly common. The badge design incorporates both the Army Star and the Navy Anchor. Alongside these are cherry blossom branches in bloom. |
| AIKOKU FUJINKAI |
| A Patriotic Women's Association sash |
| Patriotic Women's Association (2nd and 4th from left) and other patriotic group sashes |
| Below are various membership badges. |
| AI KOKU FU JIN KAI |
| A big metal dish of some sort, perhaps a candy dish. Embossed with the Army star in the center. And nicely detailed with branches around the rim. It has a high base. The dish itself has no inscriptions, but the case does. On the lid there are some gold gilt figures: two anti-aircraft guns and a fighter plane above. Also a kanji character that means 'Celebration.' In the plane is written 'Aikoku (38) Kyoto.' Aikoku means Patriotic, and it stands for the Aikoku Fujin Kai. This was a women's group that raised money to buy planes and other wartime things for the military. In return, the planes were often inscribed with Aikoku and the number, perhaps referring to a branch of that group. Obviously, this group was from Kyoto. The maker's card and ribbon are still intact. I'm not sure to whom this dish would have been presented. To the group that donated the money, probably. Heavy metal item, but it is not pure silver. |
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| A beautiful Patriotic Women's League (Aikoku Fujin Kai) commemorative plate. Pre-WW2. There is a maker's mark on the bottom. I was told this is the Old Noritake mark. The membership badge is nicely detailed and quite colorful. There are cherry blossoms and a purple tie in the design, too. Above is a poem, but I cannot read it. Size: 19.5 cm across. |