1932 Imperial Japanese Army Manchuria Memorial Tower with Battlefield Sand
Made by mixing sand from the Manchurian battlefields for the repose of the fallen. Sand collected by Army Lieutenant Colonel Inada Kikizo. Presented by Shiga Prefecture. Manufactured at the Shiga Prefectural Ceramic Research Institute (Shigaraki). The sand used in this piece was collected directly from the actual battlefields in Manchuria where Japanese troops fought in 1931-32. Inada Kikizo, personally gathered battlefield soil at Fengtian/ Mukden. The ceramic model was produced by the Shigaraki Prefectural Ceramic Research Institute, the official government workshop responsible for high-quality Shigaraki ware. The characters ” / Churei” (“Loyal Spirits”) on the tower are the calligraphy of General Takashi Kishikiri, a senior Imperial Japanese Army commander. These memorial towers (Chureito) were erected to honor soldiers who died during the Manchurian Incident, making this piece an early-period memorial artifact. They were created in very small numbers as presentation or dedication pieces linked to the construction of the actual Fengtian Chureito tower. About This Artifact. Material: Shigaraki ware (traditional Japanese stoneware). Width / Depth: approx. Origin: Japan, 1932 (Showa 7). Antique original with natural firing marks, glaze crazing, and age-related wear. A chipped area on the lower base (see photographs). Inscription and calligraphy remain fully legible. Structurally solid and retains strong display value. Why This Piece Is Highly Collectible. Battlefield sand artifact (extremely rare). Documented inscriptions tying it to a named officer. Produced by a governmental ceramic institute. Memorial item from the earliest phase of Japan’s continental expansion. Large display size; architectural form of an actual war memorial. Pieces with battlefield material, official inscriptions, and military calligraphy almost never come to the international market. Approximate 5-7days(To USA).