Japanese Sake Cup

[danimal03]

Nice set of cups! I was stationed on Okinawa in 1999 in the USMC.  There was a local PX vendor who sold antiques.  He also sold sake cups for $5 each.  They were all nondug.  One day I asked him if he had any that were cave recovered.  From under the table, he pulled one out that was dirty exactly like yours.

 

I was happy to buy it, and it was the same price of $5.  Naively and stupidly as a young overzealous Marine, I cleaned it.  I still have it, but it looks nondug now.  Mine is similar to these.  It has a big gold army star in the center with gold characters.  I have never had it translated but I have seen others, and they were described as generic patriotic army slogans.

 

I do not read Japanese.  But my hunch is the three on the right are generic army patriotic cups.  My guess with the horse one is it is to a specific unit.  Likely cavalry.  However, I suppose a veterinarian could have had it.  Hopefully someone will chime in with better info.

 

Regardless I think this is a great grouping.  I think by the time I was there in 1999 most of the items like this had been scoured.  There was still plenty of UXOs and munitions in the caves.  But I would imagine they are gone now.  Plus, I have heard it is now illegal to export relics off the island. cheers!

[Mr. Bushido]

22 hours ago, triplecanopy said:

Any comments on these? They came from Okinawa.

I think the summary is as other members have explained.

 

The characters on each cup have the following meaning.

 

I think it is highly likely that the original owners of these items had no connection to the battles in Okinawa.

 

◆Top left
・"騎兵廿二": 22th Cavalry Regiment
・"平塚": Soldier's surname "Hiratsuka"

 

◆Bottom left
※Upside down
・"福　廿四　歩": Fukuoka 24th Infantry Regiment
・"原水(?)": Soldier's surname "Haramizu"

 

◆Top right
・"退営紀念": Commemorating honorable discharge
※The other characters were worn out and unreadable

[triplecanopy]

Thank you

[Poitz]

On 8/20/2024 at 12:15 AM, Mr. Bushido said:

Nice !
 "満期紀念" means honorary discharge, and "騎兵第三連隊" means the 3rd regiment of cavalry.

Thank you very much for the translation! I really appreciate it.