WWII Imperial Japanese China Incident Lacquer Tray Rising Sun Military
Japanese Wartime Lacquer Tray – China Incident Commemorative This is a Japanese commemorative lacquerware tray dating from the prewar or wartime period. The front features striking military imagery including a Rising Sun flag, a map of China, military helmets, flowers, and a five-pointed star. At the top are the Japanese words China Incident Commemoration. ” The “China Incident was the term commonly used in Japan at the time for the conflict with China that began in 1937 and developed into the Second Sino-Japanese War. Another inscription reads “Jinchu Hokoku” – Devote one’s loyalty in service to the nation. This phrase was widely used in wartime Japan and reflected the strong emphasis placed on loyalty, duty, and national service. Japanese Lacquerware Japan has a centuries-old tradition of fine lacquerware. Japanese lacquer pieces are admired for their deep glossy surfaces, durability, careful craftsmanship, and decorative techniques developed over generations. What makes this tray especially interesting is the combination of traditional Japanese decorative craftsmanship with unmistakably wartime imagery. It shows how military culture was not confined to uniforms, weapons, or the battlefield. It also entered ordinary objects used and displayed in Japanese homes. The Name “Sasamoto” The reverse is marked “Sasamoto” in Japanese. Although its exact meaning cannot be confirmed, the manner in which it is written suggests that it may be the name of the original owner rather than a maker’s mark. If so, it gives this piece an additional human connection – a wartime object once kept in the home of a person or family named Sasamoto. Condition There are scratches, surface wear, staining, and some losses around the edges consistent with age. Please examine all photographs carefully for the exact condition. More than simply a military souvenir, this tray preserves a glimpse of everyday life and social values in wartime Japan. History does not survive only in weapons and battlefields. Sometimes it survives quietly in an object that once sat inside someone’s home. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.