1936 IJA 18th Infantry Regt Victory Sake Cup Set Later Saipan Guam Unit
This is an original Imperial Japanese Army commemorative lacquer sake cup set. Dated May 1936 (Showa 11). Junior Officers and NCO Corps of the 18th Infantry Regiment. To commemorate their return (Victory/”Gaisen”) from military operations. Nearly 90 years old. The year 1936 was a crucial moment in pre-WWII Japan. The 18th Infantry Regiment had already served in the Sino-Japanese War. Russo-Japanese War, Jinan Incident, and later campaigns in China. Ultimately, the regiment was annihilated in the Pacific War. During the Battles of Saipan and Guam in 1944. This cup set represents the regiment in its active years. Before its final destruction. The Special Meaning of Sake Cups in the Japanese Army. In the Imperial Japanese military, sake cups were not casual tableware. They were used in. Pledges of loyalty. Farewell before battle. Drinking from the same cup symbolized shared fate. Sometimes literally life and death. Because of this ceremonial role. Military commemorative cups are often rarer than field equipment. They were not battlefield gear. They survived only if preserved intentionally. Three-piece graduated set (Large / Medium / Small). Gosan no Kiri (Paulownia Crest). A high-status emblem historically associated with the Japanese government and authority. Gold maki-e style decoration on deep red lacquer. The large cup bears gold inscription. 18th Infantry Regiment Junior Officers & NCO Corps. May 1936 Victory Commemoration. Original wooden storage box included. Cups: very good overall condition considering age. Box: exterior shows age-related wear; interior relatively clean. No original cushioning material was included. Why It Is Rare. Regiment name fully written. Exact date inscribed. Specific rank group (Junior Officers & NCO Corps). Complete 3-piece set. Pre-WWII Showa period original. Direct connection to a regiment later destroyed in the Pacific War. This is not just a military souvenir. It is a surviving ceremonial artifact tied to a real regiment. With a documented combat history ending in total loss. A tangible piece of Imperial Japanese military history. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
