Product Details

1896- 1907 Antique Imperial Japanese Army WWII Fortress Artillery, Sakazuki Commemorative Sake Cup "Late Meiji Era / Russo-Japanese War period" This specific cup is less common than the vast majority of antique Japanese military sake cups because it is dedicated to a specialized, niche branch of the military.While the crossed flags (the Hinomaru and the Rising Sun flag) and the Chrysanthemum crest are incredibly standard design motifs seen on millions of general infantry pieces, the text on your cup sets it apart. Why this cup is less common: The black-painted text reads "要塞" (Yōsai - Fortress) and "砲兵" (Hōhei - Artillery), signifying it belonged to a soldier in a Fortress Artillery unit.