Very Rare Antique Japanese Military 1942 Tojo Bestowed Mitsubishi Airplane Engine Factory Commemorative Paper Weight
This is a very rare antique Japanese military paper weight, made in the shape of a plane radial engine. The paper weight is glazed on the front, and on the back is unglazed. The words on the back recessed into the paper weight are "Showa 17th Year May" "Minister of War Merit Commemoration" and "Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Corporation, Nagoya Engine Factory". The words written on the left are "Oguchi 231 Factory Home Base" "Engine Raw Materials 4th Unit" and a signature of a sort.
The Minister of War at the time was Hideki Tojo, who doubled as Prime Minister. It is quite rare to have an item dated to 1941-1945. Mitsubishi supplied a variety of engines for various planes for both IJA and IJN.
Condition: Mint
Size: 4" across