This is an antique Japanese military sake cup, decorated with a map of the Asia Pacific with a route leaving Yokosuka. The places it visited, judging by the map, include the following: Shanghai, Kendari, Mackay, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Singapore, Hong Kong. It's not clear which direction it went in - Shanghai first or last. On the back of the cup are the words "Taisho 1st Year Long Distance Foreign Cruise Commemoration" "Warship Azuma". The cruiser Azuma fought in the Russo Japanese war. It participated in the critical Battle of Tsushima and took some shells. After the war it was assigned to training duty and this was the first of five long distance foreign trips it would take, presumably to train its crew in seamanship and to visit foreign ports. Cups with named ships are quite rare. The cup comes with original box. Under the lid of the box is an ad for the shop that sold this cup, with its address being in Yokosuka.

Condition: Mint

Size: 4.25" across