Antique Japanese Military 1932 Shanghai Incident Artillery Pewter Sake Cup
This is an antique Japanese military sake cup, one of two related to the same event with the same unit - probably from the same soldier. The cup is made of pewter and decorated with the words "Singular Devotion" and on the back "Shanghai Incident Victorious Return Commemoration" "Showa 7th Year (1932) March" and "11th Mountain Artillery". The mark in the center is the maker's name and the words on the top right of the middle circle are "Proper Pewter".
This cup comes with original box that explains the origin of the cup. The leaders of this regiment, the 11th Mountain Artillery, decided to use the money that is earmarked for cash rewards for individual soldiers to make these cups to give out instead of cash, so as that "every time the soldier raises his cup he remembers the roots of a soldier's spirit" and these cups can be passed down to one's descendants to commemorate the great incident. The writing is signed in print by Yokoo Noriyoshi who was the regimental commander at the time.
Edit: Some of you might notice I changed the photo on this - I thought the lid of the box was missing, but then I found it!
Condition: There's a little corrosion damage at 3 and 9 o'clock along the rim.
Size: 3" across