What I Have?

[Blagoy]

I received it as a gift but don't now wath exactly is.If somebody can help with it will be great.

[Stephen]

looks like a occupied Japan saki cup 

[Blagoy]

Thank you Stephen. First i was thinking it's cup for tea, but it's too small. The decoration is interesting and have some kind of knitting from porcelain and it's a very delicate.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

I collect this type of sakazuki, but only if military-related. There are some of astonishing beauty and they were produced in a miriad of different shapes and designs. I have 2 of the aborted olimpic games of 1940. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Stephen, what links it in your mind to occupied Japan?

 

The pottery basketweave underneath is a first for me.

 

This thread is reminding me to dig them out and take some sakazuki shots.

[Brian]

I collect this type of sakazuki, but only if military-related. There are some of astonishing beauty and they were produced in a miriad of different shapes and designs. I have 2 of the aborted olimpic games of 1940. 

Love to see pics of those 2 Carlo.

[Bugyotsuji]

Me too please!  (Brian, I believe N was collecting such things at one time...?)

[Bugyotsuji]

In the meantime here is a set made for the first anniversary of the start of the 'Greater East-Asian War', ie one year on from the attack on Pearl Harbor, dating this to December 1942.
(Tiny little sake cups, lidded tokkuri and wash bowl. All signed and inventoried. Kutani ware.)

 

Apart from the nails used in the boxes, I get a feeling of confidence from this set that Japan still believed at that time that they could win the war.

[Brian]

Me too please!  (Brian, I believe N was collecting such things at one time...?)

Piers,

Nicky still loves her sake cup collection and has them on display. Haven't added any new ones for a long time though, as it was easier to find and bring back when we were in Japan. But mostly WW2....Carlo has some lovely earlier ones. I must actually start looking again for some nice ones, and see about importing again. A fairly cheap collectors field (relatively speaking) and some real beauties out there.

 

Brian

[Bugyotsuji]

My wife took a small box of them to the UK a couple of years ago. Brian, do they come up on J Yahoo auction? If packed correctly they would surely survive the flight(s).

 

Have we answered Blagoy above, I wonder?

 

Carlo where are you?

[Stephen]

Just a gut feeling Piers, 

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=HuGN2G%2b3&id=75A7CAC67384E12DE3E2CCE35F49CCBE7C0D4076&thid=OIP.HuGN2G-3zxmrZPX-St_DUAEsEg&q=post+ww2+Japanese+Saki+Cup&simid=608011875656337050&selectedIndex=11&ajaxhist=0

the quality of art seems to fit in my mind like the one with flags, they wouldn't be patriotic images anymore, rather images to sell to round eyes. 

[Henry Wilson]

The pattern of the top cups looks kabuki-esque to me.

 

Intersting WW2 cups and flasks. Is there anything on the cups to suggest that they belong to the box? I would expect Kutani to have bolder designs.

[Bugyotsuji]

Henry, the lid top lists exactly what is in the box, including the unusual mini saucers, and the two tokkuri fit tightly in their slots. All pieces say 九谷 in red on their undersides. An unusual design and colour, I agree.

[Bugyotsuji]

Rough translation. (How good is your Japanese?)

 

Ordered to Commemorate the First Anniversary of the *Greater East Asia War.

Kutani-yaki

Tokkuri

Cup washing bowl

Cups (with saucers)

One complete set

Bekke

Nagasawa

 

*Pacific War

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Love to see pics of those 2 Carlo.

 

One has the writing Orimpiku and 5 circles, the other is in the shape and color of a tropical helmet (very common those days) and the 5 circles with flag on the other side and 5 circles base. I'm not aware of any other sakazuki with (aborted 1940) olimpic theme. Just as a plus my collection, waiting a dedicated room. I have dozen of laquered wood sakazuki some of exceptional beauty and value but those are already in their boxes and securely stored. 

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

 

Carlo where are you?

 

Due to timezones I've just finished to steal my salary.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Forgot to say that the inner side is white. Likely these are half finished due to the cancellation of the games.

[Bugyotsuji]

Carlo Giuseppe, very interesting. Grazie.

Doing some background reading I see that Sapporo was awarded the Winter Olympics for February 1940, and Tokyo the summer Olympics in the same year! (From 21 September, much more sensible avoiding the worst of the summer heat.)

[Bugyotsuji]

This set of sake cups may have been made to celebrate the annexation of Shanghai in 1932...(Shanghai Incident).

上海出征記念

[Bugyotsuji]

This sake cup was probably to commemorate the fall of Port Arthur in 1905? The army moved heavy 11 inch howitzers up into the hills and bombarded the Russian fortifications and harbour with 500 pound shells from behind. I cannot yet find any independent reference to 舞 ('dancing') heavy guns.
退営記念舞重砲

[John A Stuart]

How about 'brandish' ? As in 揮舞 John

[Guido]

This sake cup was probably to commemorate the fall of Port Arthur in 1905?

 

I've been to Lǚshùn (as Port Arthur is called in Chinese) twice - the type of cannon seems to be a match:

[Bugyotsuji]

Neat. Many thanks. Brandish the siege guns and get the ground dancing?

 

For a massive and wonderful literary feast, 'Clouds Above the Hill' by Shiba Ryotaro covers this overall campaign in detail and gets five out of five stars from me.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saka_no_Ue_no_Kumo