| Golden Kite badge metal sake cup with gold wash. Sharp embossed image. Inscribed on the reverse 'Meiji 28 [1895], Victorious Return Commemorative'. Metal cups from the first Sino-Japan War are rare. |
| Rare early metal sake cup from the first Sino-Japan War (1894-5). The design has embossed flags and two branches, both Imperial symbols: mums and paulonia leaves. Inscribed 'Departure to China Commemorative, Meiji 28 [1895]'. On the reverse this is engraved: 'Gift to Tanaka Sadakichi, Maebashi Veteran's Group.' And something in the base. The metal is heavy, perhaps steel. And it is very large: 12 cm across! |
| Inscribed on the reverse: 'Meiji 27-8 [1894-5], Departure to China Commemorative Sake Cup, Infantry 9/7'. |
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| Inscribed 'Infantry 9th Regiment 3rd Division, Ishikawa Kanesanro, Departure for China Commemorative'. |
Sino-Japan War 1894-5
| Inscribed 'Victorious Return Commemorative' and on the reverse 'Departure to China, War Victory Sake Cup'. |
Inscribed: 'North China Commemorative.' On the reverse: 'Infantry 21st regiment, 12th Company.' |
Inscribed: 'North China Commemorative.' On the reverse: 'Tozaka Village.' |
| Inscribed: 'Conquer China Commemorative.' On the reverse: 'Infantry 9th Regiment, Reserve Unit, 3rd Company, Meiji 27-8 [1894-5] Years War.' |
| Inscribed: 'Conquer China Army, Victorious Return Commemorative.' |
The first major war for modern Japan was the Sino-Japan War of 1894-5. It was a great boost for public morale,
though not as great as the later Russo-Japan War of 1904-5. Military commemorative items, especially
discharge items, began to be popular after this war. Although the number of items made does not reach the
enormous outburst ten years later, there is still a good number of cups (and other things) available.
The designs on cups from this war are the typical military themes. You will find some Great Wall designs (as in
the later Sino-Japan War), but a quick glance at the motifs give no indication that they are from this war. The
kanji here are important.
Shinkoku is the old name for China, later followed by shina in the 1930s (the latter now considered offensive). If
you find the kanji shin on your cup, you can be fairly certain it dates from 1894 to 1900 or so.
The name of this war in Japanese is 'Meiji 27-8 Years War'. So if you see this inscribed, you can be sure of its
date. However, without this specific phrase, it is not clear exactly when the cup was made. For example, in 1900
the Boxer Rebellion happened and some Japanese troops (about 20,000 I think) took part in that. Cups with just
shin may even be from that conflict, though most likely they are from the major Sino-Japan war. One hint may be
the use of jihen (incident) or even 'North China'. Jihen probably refers to the Boxer Rebellion.
Note that many cups from this period are lacquered wood or large sized porcelain or metal. Choko (5.5 cm) sizes
are very difficult to find.
though not as great as the later Russo-Japan War of 1904-5. Military commemorative items, especially
discharge items, began to be popular after this war. Although the number of items made does not reach the
enormous outburst ten years later, there is still a good number of cups (and other things) available.
The designs on cups from this war are the typical military themes. You will find some Great Wall designs (as in
the later Sino-Japan War), but a quick glance at the motifs give no indication that they are from this war. The
kanji here are important.
Shinkoku is the old name for China, later followed by shina in the 1930s (the latter now considered offensive). If
you find the kanji shin on your cup, you can be fairly certain it dates from 1894 to 1900 or so.
The name of this war in Japanese is 'Meiji 27-8 Years War'. So if you see this inscribed, you can be sure of its
date. However, without this specific phrase, it is not clear exactly when the cup was made. For example, in 1900
the Boxer Rebellion happened and some Japanese troops (about 20,000 I think) took part in that. Cups with just
shin may even be from that conflict, though most likely they are from the major Sino-Japan war. One hint may be
the use of jihen (incident) or even 'North China'. Jihen probably refers to the Boxer Rebellion.
Note that many cups from this period are lacquered wood or large sized porcelain or metal. Choko (5.5 cm) sizes
are very difficult to find.
Conquer China. A common phrase.
Shin (China)
Meiji 27-8 Years War. Note that the '2' is
usually the classical style.
usually the classical style.
| Inscribed 'Stationed in North China Commemorative, Infantry'. |