Beautiful engraved badge in the center. The
characters on the reverse read 'National
Fire Department Chief Association, East
Kinki Division, Gift to Shiojiri Shosanro'.
characters on the reverse read 'National
Fire Department Chief Association, East
Kinki Division, Gift to Shiojiri Shosanro'.
| The bowl is inscribed 'Toda Village Fire Brigade 4th Unit, [???] Commemorative.' Dated on the reverse: 'Taisho 11 [1922] December 25th.' |
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Inscribed 'Komatsu Village, Fire Brigade, 3rd Unit, Building of
the Hose Storeroom Commemorative, Showa 4 [1929]
September'. Tsutsu is what I translated as hose. I think that is
what it means.
the Hose Storeroom Commemorative, Showa 4 [1929]
September'. Tsutsu is what I translated as hose. I think that is
what it means.
| Kutani Fire Brigade cup with Imperial Ho-o Birds and some structure in the center. Above is the Fire Brigade badge. Inscribed '[?] Fire Brigade [?] Commemorative'. |
Japanese Fire Brigade
The modern Japanese Fire Brigade (shoubou-kumi) was formed in
early Meiji and until 1948 was a part of the police department. I am
not that familiar with the history, but I suspect that the Fire Brigade
was closely allied with the military since the police department
certainly was.
Cups from a Fire Brigade are usually easy to spot because the
insignia these brigades used are distinctive.
These often appear: crossed axes (not to be confused with the
crossed ax and shovel of the Engineer Units), a shrine paper tassel,
and some sort of three-pronged insignia usually within a cherry
blossom outline.
Many have no identifiable insignia, so the kanji must be learned, too.
Note that none of the designs are really military-related, so many of
the post-war cups use similar patterns.
early Meiji and until 1948 was a part of the police department. I am
not that familiar with the history, but I suspect that the Fire Brigade
was closely allied with the military since the police department
certainly was.
Cups from a Fire Brigade are usually easy to spot because the
insignia these brigades used are distinctive.
These often appear: crossed axes (not to be confused with the
crossed ax and shovel of the Engineer Units), a shrine paper tassel,
and some sort of three-pronged insignia usually within a cherry
blossom outline.
Many have no identifiable insignia, so the kanji must be learned, too.
Note that none of the designs are really military-related, so many of
the post-war cups use similar patterns.
Crossed axes
Shrine paper tassel
Three-pronged insignia on a badge and cup
Others
Large kanji for 'Kumi'. Identified on the reverse as
a Fire Brigade cup
a Fire Brigade cup
A lacquered wood cup with what appear to be stylized flames below
and water above. Inscribed on the reverse 'Fire Brigade Union
Association, Worker's Merit Award, Taisho 4 [1915].'
and water above. Inscribed on the reverse 'Fire Brigade Union
Association, Worker's Merit Award, Taisho 4 [1915].'
| Lacquered wood cup with the Fire Brigade emblem in gold gilt. Inscribed 'Imperial Japan Fire Brigade Association, Yamagata Prefecture Branch, Shinjou Division.' Read about Shinjou City here: SHINJOU. |
| Lacquered wood cup with the Fire Brigade emblem in gold gilt. Inscribed 'Imperial Japan Fire Brigade Association, Yamagata Prefecture Branch, Shinjou Division.' Read about Shinjou City here: SHINJOU. |
| Lacquered wood Fire Brigade cup with a Shrine Prayer Stick (sorry, I don't know the proper term for this object) design. The crossed axes of the Fire Brigade are in the background. Atop this device is a shape with a kanji for 'salt [shio]' in the center. However, it is also the first kanji in the town name (see inscription below), so that is what it stands for. Inscribed 'Prize, Showa 7 [1932] April, Shiozawa Village Fire Brigade 9th Unit, Tomii [??].' |
| Lacquered wood Fire Brigade cup with a Shrine Prayer Stick design. The crossed axes of the Fire Brigade are in the background. Inscribed 'Ibaraki Prefecture.' |
| Lacquered wood Fire Brigade cup with a gold gilt cherry blossom within which is some sort of emblem or design. Inscribed 'Merit Award, Greater Japan Fire Brigade Association, Yamanashi Prefecture Branch.' |
| Lacquered wood Fire Brigade cup with that group's emblem. Inscribed 'Merit Award.' |
| Lacquered wood Fire Brigade cup with gold gilt kanji. Inscribed 'Merit Award, Ibaraki Prefecture Fire Brigade Association.' |
| Lacquered wood Fire Brigade cup with gold gilt design. Inscribed 'Showa 28 [1953] Kawaguchi City, National Fire Brigade HQ Merit Award, Commemorative.' |