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| A VARIETY OF REVERSES |
| The different reverses on cups is bewilderingly high. Not only are there completely different patterns, there are also minor variations of the more common patterns. Most of the variation appears on the standard 5.5 cm cups. The larger cups almost always have a white reverse that is not embossed or painted. Most patterns have little to do with the value of the cup unless they are particularly interesting, such as kabuto reverses. (I have a separate page showing these.) Generally speaking, military cups have the same reverses as civilian ones. The cup mold was made and then the cup was customized with inscriptions and paintings. So you'll find many non-military cups made in the 1920s and 1930s with reverses similar to the ones pictured below. |
| Basic shape, often painted as seen to the right |
| Embossed patterns, usually tinted blue. |
| Two cherry blossom reverses, variations in the petals |
| Kutani yaki cups, various reverses |
| Other commonly seen types |
| Inscribed with regiment number |
| This one has the leg and tail of a horse, continued from the design in the bowl. |