This is a very rare set of antique Japanese military sake cups, made of lacquered wood. The words on the cup are "Warship Akashi Southern Pacific Patrol Commemoration". Akashi was the only ship in the Imperial Japanese Navy that was purpose built for repair duties. It was modeled after the American ship USS Medusa and launched in 1938 and completed in 1939, just in time for the war. It spent most of the war in various parts of South Pacific, such as Palau and Truk, and also participated in various campaigns such as Midway, Solomon Islands, etc. It sank in 1944 at Palau and was a major blow to the IJN as it meant they lost significant repair capabilities away from home.

The cups don't have decorations other than the words - quite consistent with many other lacquer cups I've seen from 1940 onwards when decorations were increasingly rare (and if they exist, very simple). This would've been made probably from one of the rare home visits during this period, perhaps when it went back to Kure briefly in 1942 after extensive service in previous years, including major repairs for the cruiser Mogami after Midway (Mogami ate six bombs and was missing its bow after a collision), which was done at Truk.

Condition: Mint

Size: 3.25", 4", 5"