https://militaria19191938.org Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:19:51 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/09/14/wwii-imperial-japanese-army-76th-infantry-regiment-machine-gun-lacquer-tray/ https://militaria19191938.org/2026/09/14/wwii-imperial-japanese-army-76th-infantry-regiment-machine-gun-lacquer-tray/#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:19:51 +0000 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/09/14/wwii-imperial-japanese-army-76th-infantry-regiment-machine-gun-lacquer-tray/




This is an original Japanese lacquer presentation tray associated with the 76th Infantry Regiment Machine Gun Unit of the Imperial Japanese Army. The front is decorated with a Japanese Army star, stylized floral and flowing-water motifs, and the large characters “Kokko” at the center. More importantly, the tray is clearly inscribed: “76th Infantry Regiment – Machine Gun Unit” “Commemorative” This makes the military connection unusually specific. Rather than being a generic Japanese Army souvenir, it can be tied directly to a particular regiment and even to its specialized machine gun unit. The 76th Infantry Regiment belonged to the Imperial Japanese Army’s 19th Division and was based in Ranam in northern Korea, then part of the Japanese Empire. The 19th Division was established as part of Japan’s military presence on the Korean Peninsula and was responsible for the strategically important northern region facing Manchuria and the Soviet Far East. During the later wartime period, elements of the division were transferred and reorganized as Japan’s military situation deteriorated. Within an infantry regiment, the machine gun unit provided concentrated firepower and required soldiers trained in the operation, maintenance, and coordinated use of heavy automatic weapons. The fact that this piece identifies the Machine Gun Unit specifically gives it considerably more historical character than a standard regimental souvenir. The reverse bears what appears to be the original owner’s surname: “Kobayashi” This personal name adds another layer of provenance and gives the object a direct human connection to the military organization named on the front. The tray itself is also a fine example of traditional Japanese lacquerware. Japanese lacquer objects were valued for their combination of beauty, light weight, and remarkable durability. Multiple layers of lacquer created a hard, protective surface, making lacquerware particularly suitable for commemorative and presentation pieces intended to be kept for many years. Presentation cups, trays, and similar lacquer objects were commonly produced in prewar Japan to commemorate military service, transfers, unit events, discharge, achievements, and other important occasions. Age-related scratches and surface wear are present, but they also give the piece the character expected of an authentic period object. With its combination of a named regiment, machine gun unit, traditional Japanese lacquerwork, and the possible original owner’s name, this is far more than decorative lacquerware-it is a surviving piece of one soldier’s military world. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.

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