This is a complete set of eight original color postcards issued in 1921 to commemorate the European tour of Crown Prince Hirohito, the future Emperor of Japan. The original wrapper is printed with: “Color Printing” “Commemorative Photographs of the Crown Prince’s European Tour” “First Series – Set of Eight” It also identifies the distributor as the Hochi newspaper agency office in Marunouchi, Tokyo, and carries a “Reproduction Prohibited” notice. These details on the surviving original wrapper are important because they strongly support the period origin of the set. This was not a later retrospective souvenir produced after Hirohito became Emperor, but a postcard series created specifically to commemorate his 1921 journey while he was still Crown Prince. The 1921 tour was also a major event in the history of the Japanese Imperial Family. Members of the Imperial Family had traveled abroad before, but Hirohito’s journey was the first large-scale official overseas tour by a Japanese Crown Prince who would later become Emperor. At only 20 years old, he traveled through Europe, visiting Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and other countries. Britain was one of the central destinations of the tour. Hirohito met King George V and members of the British Royal Family, attended official ceremonies, reviewed troops, and experienced European royal and political society at close range. The postcards preserve scenes of that journey in color, including British guards, ceremonial processions, royal carriages, military events, and Crown Prince Hirohito in uniform. This is therefore much more than simply an old postcard set of Emperor Hirohito. It is a contemporary visual record of the young Hirohito’s first major encounter with Europe, before he became Emperor and before the Showa era began. The European tour therefore came at an especially important turning point in his life, immediately before he moved into the center of Japan’s national leadership. All eight postcards remain together with the original printed wrapper. A remarkable surviving record of the moment when the future Emperor Hirohito first stepped onto the international stage. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.
This is an original commemorative plate made in November 1928 for the Enthronement of Emperor Hirohito (Emperor Showa). The inscription on the reverse reads: “Commemoration of the Imperial Enthronement Celebration November 1928 Imperial Japanese Army Banquet Facility” The term used in the original Japanese inscription refers to a facility associated with the serving of ceremonial meals during the Imperial celebration. Period records from the 1928 Enthronement also document special banquet and meal facilities established for the ceremonies. Another important feature is the maker. The reverse bears the NORITAKE / NIPPON TOKI KAISHA backstamp. Nippon Toki Kaisha was the company behind Noritake, which had already become one of Japan’s leading manufacturers of high-quality Western-style tableware by the prewar period, with its porcelain exported internationally. It brings together three distinctive elements: Emperor Hirohito’s 1928 Enthronement, the Imperial Japanese Army, and Noritake. The center features a gold five-pointed star associated with the Imperial Japanese Army, surrounded by elegant phoenix and paulownia designs. 9.4 inches (24 cm). Nearly a century old, the plate shows age-related surface wear, staining and some wear to the decoration. Please examine the photographs carefully for condition. Dated November 1928, its connection to the Imperial ceremony and the Japanese Army remains permanently recorded on the reverse. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.
This is a prewar Japanese lacquer sake cup made to commemorate the Imperial Enthronement Ceremony, or “Grand Enthronement, ” of Emperor Hirohito. The cup is finished in deep red lacquer with a gold phoenix and floral design. The original wooden box also bears the same commemorative inscription and company name. Although the cup itself is not dated, its period can be identified through the history of the company. Was established in 1922 and ceased to exist under this name after its merger in 1941. The only Imperial Enthronement Ceremony held during that period was the enthronement of Emperor Hirohito in 1928. For this reason, this piece can be confidently attributed to the 1928 Imperial Enthronement celebrations. The most unusual aspect of this item is the company behind it. In prewar Japan, military conscription could have a significant financial impact on a young man and his family. This makes the cup more than simply a commemorative sake vessel. It represents an unusual intersection of Imperial ceremony, military conscription, private business, and everyday life in prewar Japan. Please note that this is not confirmed to be a military-issued sake cup. The original wooden box and wrapping cloth are included. The cup remains in attractive condition for its age, while the box shows age-related wear and cracking. Please examine all photographs carefully for condition. A fascinating piece of Japanese social history from an era when military conscription was closely connected with everyday civilian life. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.
This is a complete set of three commemorative postcards issued in 1921 to celebrate the return of Crown Prince Hirohito, later Emperor Showa, from his historic tour of Europe. The set was published by the Choyokai association of the Printing Bureau and includes its original commemorative wrapper. The significance of this set goes far beyond ordinary vintage postcards. In 1921, the 20-year-old Crown Prince Hirohito became the first Japanese crown prince to make a major overseas tour, visiting countries including the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy. This journey took place only a few years after the end of World War I, at a time when the international order was rapidly changing. For the young heir to the Japanese throne, it was an important opportunity to directly observe European royal courts, politics, military institutions, and society. During his visit to Britain, Hirohito met King George V and experienced the British constitutional monarchy firsthand. The journey became one of the most important international experiences of his youth. Five years later, in 1926, he ascended the throne as Emperor Showa. He would remain Emperor through some of the most dramatic events in modern Japanese history: the Manchurian Incident, the Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II, Japan’s defeat in 1945, and the country’s postwar reconstruction. That makes these postcards especially evocative. They do not simply show a young Japanese royal. They preserve scenes from the life of a man who would later become one of the central figures of 20th-century Japanese history, at a moment when he was still a young Crown Prince encountering the wider world. The three postcards depict scenes connected with the European tour, including: Crown Prince Hirohito during his visit to Oxford A ceremonial carriage procession in Britain A meeting with local officials during the tour Each postcard also bears a 1921 commemorative stamp issued for the Crown Prince’s return to Japan, together with a special commemorative cancellation dated September 5, 1921, from Osaka. The original wrapper is also included. It features traditional Japanese imperial imagery including the chrysanthemum crest, paulownia motifs, cranes, and waves. What makes this set particularly desirable is the combination of several surviving historical elements in one group: the complete three-postcard set, the original wrapper, the commemorative stamps, and the special commemorative cancellations. Rather than being simply a postcard set, this is a compact piece of Japanese imperial, diplomatic, postal, and prewar history. More than 100 years old, it naturally shows some age-related toning, light wear, and minor edge wear. Please examine the photographs carefully for condition. An especially interesting piece for collectors of Imperial Japanese history, Emperor Hirohito, royal memorabilia, diplomatic history, postal history, and early Japanese postcards. A young Crown Prince, five years before becoming Emperor, seen at the beginning of a journey that would place him at the center of modern Japanese history. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.
1931 “Seijo Goseitoku Roku”. Official Record of Emperor Hirohito (Showa Emperor). 1150 pages – Large Format – Photo Rich Volume. Published in 1931 (Showa 6). This is a substantial official compilation documenting the life of Emperor Hirohito from birth through approximately age 31. The book was published in 1931 – the year of the Manchurian Incident – a turning point when Imperial Japan began its expansion toward full-scale war. It was produced not as a casual biography, but as a state-sponsored record intended for. Influential regional figures. Its purpose was to present a structured image of the Emperor as head of state under the Meiji Constitution. At that time, the Emperor legally held supreme command authority over the Imperial Army and Navy. This makes the volume significant not only as an imperial biography, but as documentation of how pre-WWII Japan formally constructed and disseminated the public image of its sovereign. Constitutional sovereign of Imperial Japan. Holder of supreme military command authority. Central figure during World War II. His historical responsibility and role in wartime decision-making remain subjects of academic debate. This book reflects the official portrayal of him prior to the escalation of the Pacific War. Early life and imperial lineage charts. Formal military portraits. Scientific research (marine biology). Extensive photographic documentation. This is a primary source for researchers studying. Pre-WWII Japanese state ideology. Imperial propaganda development. 26cm x 19.5cm x 9cm. Age-related toning and wear. Structurally solid for its age. This is not a modern reprint. It is an original pre-WWII state publication – a substantial and historically significant document. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
This large antique Japanese hanging scroll commemorates an important moment in the life of Crown Prince Hirohito, who would later become Emperor Showa of Japan. At the bottom are portraits of Crown Prince Hirohito and Princess Nagako, the future Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun. Beneath their portraits appears the Japanese inscription: Commemorating the Auspicious Occasion of Their Imperial Highnesses This inscription is an important clue to the historical context of the piece. Crown Prince Hirohito married Princess Nagako on January 26, 1924, during Japan’s Taisho era. Hirohito was still a young Crown Prince, approximately three years before he ascended the throne and became the emperor whose reign would encompass World War II and Japan’s postwar transformation. The scroll presents much more than the young couple. Its imagery includes: Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken Meiji Shrine Nijubashi Bridge at the Imperial Palace Crown Prince Hirohito and Princess Nagako The Imperial chrysanthemum crest and decorative phoenix motifs At the top appears the phrase , approximately meaning The Glory of the Nation. The composition is particularly interesting from a historical perspective. Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken appear above the Meiji Shrine and Imperial Palace imagery, while the young Crown Prince and his bride appear below. It visually connects the Meiji imperial generation with the next generation of Japan’s Imperial Family. Today, Hirohito is inevitably associated with some of the most consequential events of the 20th century: the rise of militarized Japan, the Pacific War, Japan’s defeat in 1945, and the country’s remarkable postwar transformation. But this scroll captures an earlier moment. The war was still far in the future. Hirohito was not yet Emperor. It comes from a Japan celebrating the marriage of its young Crown Prince and his future Empress. That contrast is what makes this piece especially fascinating. Measuring approximately 150 cm (59 in) long and 51 cm (20 in) wide, it is a substantial display piece as well as an artifact of Japanese imperial and social history. The scroll shows significant age-related wear, including creases, wrinkles, discoloration, fading, stains, and other deterioration. Please examine all photographs carefully. These signs of age are consistent with an object that has survived for approximately a century. Dating Note: Based on the portraits and the inscription commemorating an auspicious occasion involving the Crown Prince and Princess, this piece is believed to relate to their 1924 marriage. However, no clearly visible production date or publisher’s mark has been confirmed, so the exact year of manufacture cannot be guaranteed. More than simply an old Japanese decorative scroll, this is a surviving image of Hirohito before he became Emperor – at the beginning of a life that would become inseparable from modern Japanese history. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.
Own a Piece of History. This is an original. 1928 illustrated scroll “Showa Gotaitei Emaki”. To commemorate the enthronement ceremonies of. Emperor Hirohito (Showa Emperor). The scroll measures an impressive. 418 cm 164 in. In total length, and features beautifully printed illustrations by leading Japanese artists of the time, including. Poems are contributed by. Emperor Hirohito (Showa Emperor) reigned from. Overseeing the most dramatic and turbulent era in modern Japanese history. During the 1930s-1945 period, he stood as. The head of state of Imperial Japan. The supreme authority within the military structure. Making him a central figure in Japanese politics and wartime decision-making. This scroll records the. Created at a time when Japan was not yet at total war-capturing the nation before it entered the most consequential years of the 20th century. Because of the emperor’s role in both domestic governance and the military system, any original prewar material related to Hirohito is highly valued among collectors of. Royal and court ceremonial culture. Showa Gotaitei Emaki (Showa Enthronement Illustrated Scroll). Matsuoka Eikyu / Yamaguchi Hoshun / Yoshimura Tadao / Yamada Shuei. One wooden roller end is missing. Age-related toning, creases, light stains. Some fold lines from storage. No major tears; fully viewable. Please check all photos carefully. Authentic prewar Imperial Japan artifact. With significant historical value. Approximate 7-21days(To USA).
This is an original prewar Japanese hanging scroll featuring. Emperor Hirohito (Emperor Showa). Five Principles of Military Spirit (Gunjin Seishin Gokajo). One of the moral foundations taught to soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army. At the top of the composition are the Imperial Chrysanthemum Crest and a pair of phoenixes, symbols traditionally associated with the Imperial House of Japan. Beneath them appears the. Five Principles of Military Spirit. Which instructed soldiers to uphold. Loyalty to the Emperor. Proper conduct and courtesy. These principles reflected the ethical code expected of Japanese servicemen during the prewar period and formed an important part of military education. The lower portion of the scroll depicts. Emperor Hirohito on horseback in military uniform. From his accession to the throne in 1926 until the end of World War II in 1945, Emperor Hirohito served as Japan’s sovereign and was constitutionally recognized as the. Supreme Commander of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy. For this reason, his portrait was widely displayed in military facilities, schools, and government institutions as a symbol of national unity, discipline, and loyalty. The Emperor is portrayed as a relatively young man in this artwork. Based on the style of the portrait and the overall design, it is likely that this image was originally created during the. Late 1920s or early 1930s. Shortly after his accession. While the exact production date of this scroll cannot be confirmed, it clearly reflects the visual style of early Showa-era military educational materials. Scrolls of this type were displayed in barracks, military schools, youth organizations, and other public institutions to reinforce discipline, patriotism, and the ideals of Bushido among soldiers and young people. Today, this piece serves not only as decorative artwork but also as an important historical document illustrating how military ethics and loyalty to the Emperor were visually communicated in prewar Japan. Imperial Chrysanthemum Crest, phoenixes, the Five Principles of Military Spirit, and a youthful portrait of Emperor Hirohito. This is an impressive display piece for collectors of Imperial Japanese militaria, military education, wartime propaganda, and modern Japanese history. The scroll shows expected age-related wear, including minor foxing, discoloration, and light stains, but remains in overall good condition for its age. Please examine all photographs carefully before purchasing. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
Own a Piece of History. This unique commemorative bronze desk plaque was issued by the Japan Mint in January 1924 to celebrate the marriage of the Imperial Crown Prince-later Emperor Hirohito (Emperor Showa)-and his bride, Princess Nagako (later Empress Kojun). The piece is styled as a miniature shotate (Japanese desk screen), a traditional item used to partition space and display important art objects. Features the crowned portraits of Crown Prince Hirohito and Princess Nagako encircled by laurel wreaths, with the Imperial chrysanthemum crest above. ? (“Commemorating the Marriage of the Crown Prince”). Depicts pine and wisteria trees (symbols of longevity and prosperity) and is engraved. ? (“January, Taisho 13 [1924]”). Who was Crown Prince Hirohito? This plaque marks the beginning of his journey as Emperor. Such commemorative plaques were prestigious, not for public sale, and distributed only to high-ranking officials and dignitaries involved in the wedding. The shotate (desk screen) design is rare, blending Western art deco influences with traditional Japanese symbolism. Why collect this item? This is more than just a collectible. It’s a tangible fragment of Japanese Imperial history-witness to a marriage that shaped an era, sealed in bronze by the national mint. Ideal for collectors of Japanese medals, Imperial memorabilia, or World War I/early Showa period artifacts. Some signs of age, as expected for an item over 100 years old. Approximate 7-21days(To USA).
Original Pre-WW2 Imperial Japanese Navy poster featuring the light cruiser KINU (Nagara-class). Printed in the early Showa period, this piece includes a portrait of. Symbol of the Imperial Household. Large format and rare surviving example of naval promotional or commemorative prints from the 1930s. About the Cruiser KINU. She served extensively throughout the Pacific. Philippine invasion operations (1941). Dutch East Indies operations (1942). Guadalcanal “Tokyo Express” transport missions. Numerous escort and supply operations in New Guinea and the Bismarck Sea. Sunk in October 1944. During the Leyte Gulf operations. A warship known for its wide operational range and heavy wartime service. Portrait of Emperor Hirohito, gold Chrysanthemum Seal. Creases, age toning, minor stains. 380 × 296 mm. A valuable display piece for collectors of Imperial Japanese Navy history, warship memorabilia, and pre-WW2 prints. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.