1930s Sake cup showing Japanese victories in China.

[KungFooey]

I pick these little cups up sometimes if they have more interesting decoration than just the usual two flags.

From what I can make out this one is celebrating the Imperial Japanese Army's initial successes in China.

 

Dee

[Bugyotsuji]

The outline of an army helmet.

Maybe showing the complete take-over of the railroad/railway down through 南京 Nanjing out to 上海 Shanghai and onward… (?)

Might be interesting to narrow down the possible date of this!

[KungFooey]

1 hour ago, Bugyotsuji said:

The outline of an army helmet.

Maybe showing the complete take-over of the railroad/railway down through 南京 Nanjing out to 上海 Shanghai and onward… (?)

Might be interesting to narrow down the possible date of this!

Thanks Piers!

 

Below is a close up. The seller described it as showing 上海鎮江南京杭州寧波 which AI translated as "Shanghai, Zhenjiang, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Ningbo".

I recognize Shanghai and Nanking but not the other places.

 

Dee

[Jake6500]

On 2/16/2025 at 1:16 AM, KungFooey said:

Thanks Piers!

 

Below is a close up. The seller described it as showing 上海鎮江南京杭州寧波 which AI translated as "Shanghai, Zhenjiang, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Ningbo".

I recognize Shanghai and Nanking but not the other places.

 

Dee

 

It appears to be mapping the Southern advances of the imperial army from the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo toward Shanghai going from top to bottom...

 

This would presumably place the date somewhere between the capture of Shanghai in November 1937 and the Japanese surrender in August 1945.

 

This was most likely produced around the peak of Japan's military dominance circa November 1937 - December 1941.

 

Very interesting item you have found.