WWII Imperial Japanese Army Imperial Guard Discharge Commemorative Tea Saucer
WWII Imperial Japanese Army Imperial Guard Discharge Commemorative Tea Saucer. This is a prewar Imperial Japanese Army commemorative tea saucer made to mark a soldier’s discharge from the Imperial Guard Division. The Japanese inscriptions on the surface read “Imperial Guard Division” and Discharge Commemoration. At the center is a scroll displaying the five military virtues derived from the Imperial Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors: loyalty, proper conduct, valor, faithfulness, and simplicity. Issued in 1882, the Imperial Rescript became one of the foundations of moral education within the prewar Japanese military. On the right is the distinctive Imperial Guard Division emblem, while the left side depicts a palace-style scene associated with the Imperial residence. The Imperial Guard held a special position within the Japanese Army. Originally organized to protect the Emperor and the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, its soldiers served in one of the most prestigious formations of the prewar military. Tea also had an important place in everyday Japanese hospitality. A small saucer such as this was therefore both a practical household object and a personal keepsake marking the end of a soldier’s military service and his return to civilian life. The reverse bears the Japanese inscription Design Registered, No. Approximate size: 11 × 8 cm / 4.3 × 3.1 in. There are minor scratches, discoloration, and signs of age, but no major damage. Please refer to the photographs for the exact condition. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.