This is an antique Japanese military sake cup, decorated with a pair of flags, a kiri, and a cherry blossom. The words on the cup are "Warship Hashidate" "Propulsion personnel" "Long Distance Voyage" and the sailor's name Hibino. The cruiser Hashidate is a Matsushima class cruiser, named after the three famous views of Japan. It fought in both the Sino Japanese war and the Russo Japanese war, although by then it was obsolete. In between the wars and after 1905 it went on a number of long distance voyages that took it to various parts of the world as a training vessel for the navy to train crew and officers.

Condition: Mint

Size: 3.25" across