| ARMY (INFANTRY) |
| The Japanese Imperial Army had many different branches and specialties. You can access the SITE MAP to find different units such as the artillery units, engineer, air corps, etc. The most common symbol or emblem of the infantry was the 5-pointed star. (Note that if you see a star with more points, these will be speciality symbols. For example, a 10-pointed star is an Academy symbol.) The Army star was used in a huge variety of combinations and often seen by itself. Scattered throughout these pages are Army stars within other designs. On this page I'd like to show some designs with the star as the central figure. The star is not such a dynamic figure, and cups with stars are not prized by collectors. And star designs seem to be the most common of patterns, so you can easily get your hands on one. Usually the rays of the star are shaded, but simpler stars can be found, too. Once in a while a star will appear on a Navy cup, but this is rare. Some cups have a combination of Army and Navy symbols, but these cups were not strictly military-related. |
| Below the Army star here is a Rank Insignia (probably Superior Private). Rare to see these on cups. Dated Taisho 1 [1912]. |
| Actual insignia |
| Sake cup with original cardboard box. The cup is dated 1915. Gold gilt military star. The characters on the reverse read 'Taisho 4 [1915] December, Army Cabinet Minister Garden Party.' I am not sure what kind of party that was. The box has the shop label: 'Sake Cup, Yotsutani, Made at the Hatsubashi Honten.' |
| Large pure silver sake cup, marked JUNGIN on the reverse. In the bowl is an engraved Army star. The engraved characters on the reverse read 'Southern China Dispatch, Army Headquarters.' |
| Inscribed '18th Infantry Discharge Commemorative'. |
| Small plate with Army star. Inscribed on the reverse 'Prayer for Victory in War and Long Life'. |
| Army star and crane. Inscribed '7th Field Artillery, Commemorative'. |
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| Inscribed 'Discharge Commemorative, 20th Infantry.' |
| Inscribed 'Youngsan [Korea] 78th Infantry, Discharge Commemorative'. |
| Inscribed '28th Cavalry, Discharge Commemorative'. |
| Inscribed 'Discharge Commemorative'. |
| Inscribed 'Discharge Commemorative, 2nd Transport, Superior Private Matsutaka.' |
| Here is an Army translator cup, the first I have ever seen. Inscribed 'Siberia Dispatch Commemorative, Army Translator Ishibashi [??].' |
| On the reverse: 'Cavalry 16th Regiment.' |
Rare cup inscribed 'KODO' or Imperial Way Faction. This faction was within the Army and was formed in the 1930s. It was responsible for the 1935 Aizawa Incident and the very famous February 26th [1936] uprising. |