This is an antique Japanese military sake cup, decorated with an anchor and cherry blossom insignia, and a naval ensign. The words are "Training ship Soya Long Distance Voyage Commemoration". The sailor's name Kawabara is on the back. Soya was a captured protected cruiser during the Russo Japanese war when it was the Varyag, which was sunk and then raised by the Japanese and restored to working condition. It was used as a training ship from 1909 to 1913. During WW1 the ship was transferred back to Russia as Japan was fighting on the same side as Imperial Russia during the war. Among the cadets trained on the Soya during these long distance training cruises (one of which went to Hawaii and North America) were famous officers such as Ozawa Jisaburo and Yamamoto Isoroku.

Condition: Excellent - light fading of the gold

Size: 3.25" across