This is an antique Japanese military sake cup, decorated with a map of the Eurasian continent with a route plotted on it and topped with a very nice stylized naval ensign of the Japanese navy. The words on the back of the cup are the words "Taisho 15th Year Training Fleet Warship Izumo Long Distance Cruise Commemoration". These were long distances cruises undertaken by the Japanese navy to train its officer cadets, using older cruisers from the Russo Japanese War era. 

In this case it's the Izumo going on a cruise to Europe, stopping at Manila, Colombo, Dar es Salaam, then heading to Egypt and Europe at ports like Malta and Toulon. Then on the way back it also stopped at Hong Kong and Shanghai. The Izumo was a ship with a very long service history - finished in 1899 and participated in every war since then including WW2, firing its guns in support of ground operations during WW2 and took the USS Wake on the Yangtze river. Probably because of its distinguished history, the JMSDF decided to name the largest ship it ever built also as the Izumo. That ship was commissioned last year.

The cup comes with original wooden box. The lid of the box has a sticker from a shop in Yonezawa advertising them selling pottery, lacquer, silver, and gold cups.

Condition: Mint

Size: 4.5" across