| Army Engineer Units |
There were two different kinds of engineers in the Japanese army and navy. One kind fixed vehicles, tanks, and other mechanical items. They built them, too. The other kind built and maintained roads, bridges, and other buildings. Although there were two types, the main symbols on all engineer cups were the same: a shovel and pickax. However, there is a great variety of engineer cups, many of which have no shovel or pickax. So the first thing to remember is the kanji for Engineer, which is easy because it looks just like an upper-case I. |
| The kanji for 'engineer' is to the right, followed by HEI (soldier). |
| Sake cup tray from an engineer unit. Note the pickax and shovel by the flag. |
| Some examples. |
| The kanji for engineer is used as part of the design. |
| Engineer cups with no shovel or pickax. |
| The characters read 'Engineer, 5th Regiment, 5th Division.' |
| 4th Engineer Unit, Discharge Commemorative |
| Hand-painted Engineer soldier cup from WW1, specifically Siberia. This is the first soldier cup I have seen from this conflict. The design shows a Japanese soldier and a large explosion. The characters read '9th Engineer, Siberia, Discharge Commemorative.' |
| Here are two engineer cups with regiment collar tabs, both 3rd Regiment. |
| Inscribed 'Meiji 43 [1910], Army, Large Military Training Exercise Commemorative.' On the reverse: 'Engineer Infantry, 17th Division.' |
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| Rare hand-painted Engineer soldier cup. Inscribed '9th Engineer Unit, Discharge Commemorative'. |
| Explosion on the front lines Engineer cup. Inscribed '14th Engineer Unit, Commemorative, Kobayashi'. |