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Japanese Patriotic Paper Weight


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In keeping with the navy style paperweight theme, here is a beautiful example of the Japanese super battleship Musashi.  The ship's guns, superstructure and other aspects of the deck, are nicely displayed. 

Paperweight Musashi (2).jpg

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This is a very unusual type of paperweight in that the subject matter is of a soldier as a dog handler. The soldier is kneeling amidst the backdrop of a Japanese battle flag.  He is in full combat gear; his dog sits nearby, scanning the battlefield.

There were a variety of these flat types of paperweights.  Many were quite common and often encountered by the collector today.  This is a rather rare example.

Doghandler paperweight (2).jpg

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This nicely cast paperweight is highly detailed.  Like many of the ship paperweights, it is shown powering through the ocean's waves, rather than sitting stationary like the old dreadnought types displayed previously.  The nice thing about paperweights is that they are not expensive; most may be purchased for around $50-$150.  Practically all of them come with a story or history that can be easily researched.  Anyone new entering the hobby or someone on a limited budget, should be able to quickly begin, and build a nice collection of these vintage World War Two Japanese patriotic items.   

Destroyer Paperweight (2).jpg

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This paperweight pretty much speaks for itself; in the shape of a torpedo, I have also seen a similar example labelled as a kamikaze torpedo.  Near the end of the war, the Japanese constructed a small torpedo-like bomb (kaiten) that was piloted by one person.  The object was to direct the torpedo into the side of a ship.  The explosion would blast a hole in the ship's side, causing it to sink.  During a scuba diving trip to Truk Atoll (Micronesia), I saw caves on the islands that were used to stash these human-torpedo bombs.  A few of the ships that were sunk off Truck, also have a number of these weapons still stored onboard.

torpedo paperweight (2).jpg

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This navy-style paperweight is made from a ceramic-glass material.  This version is in a blue color, but there are/were other shades as well, including white and a gray-black.

Ceramic Paperweight of ship (2).jpg

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This flat, glass paperweight takes the form of the Japanese Battle Flag.  The colored red sun in the center, and faded white-etched rays, are painted on the reverse side of the thick piece of glass.

Paperweight of battle flag (2).jpg

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This is a commemorative paperweight for the Japanese 63rd Infantry Regt.  The base of the paperweight shows a map of China and some of the various troop movement areas and battle places.

Paperweight- 68th Inf. Regt. (2).jpg

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This commemorative paperweight is long and narrow.  The design takes the shape of a paratroop soldier, dangling from his parachute canopy.  Like the dog/troop example, this style of paperweight is uncommon.

Paperweight Paratroop (2).jpg

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This small, flat paperweight takes the shape of what I think is a flight school cadet's badge.  It measures approximately 3.5-4.5 inches long. 

 

Paperweight-Flight School (2).jpg

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This nicely detailed paperweight shows a Japanese Army soldier focused and firing his machine gun.  The star on his helmet is clearly visible as are different pieces of his equipment.

paperweight with soldier machine gunner (2).jpg

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This is the last paperweight I am going to post for now.  It is cased in a nice kiri wood box and depicts heavy artillery piece, mortar or siege gun.  It was offered by a Japanese insurance company.

canon paperweight (2).jpg

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This is a paperweight for the Matsushima Senten Memorial Infantry 6th Union Corps Regiment.  It commemorates the units involvement in the Manchurian Incident.

Matsushima paperweight (2).jpg

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Very neat.  I notice the cartridge is set on a sword tsuba (guard) for the Shin-gunto as a design element.  

 

 

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Hello Sarge-

     Yes, you are right.  There are quite a few of these flat-type paperweights that are made to resemble tsuba; most have a rifle cartridge set on top of them as well.  At least half, if not most of these also have an engraved map on the backside (normally China, Korea, Manchuria), that shows the area where the unit served.  They are quite colorful and historic.  

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