Very Rare Russo Japanese War Habomai Islands Lacquer Shobukai Army Sake Cup
This is an antique Japanese military sake cup, decorated with a pair of flags. The words on the front are "Russia Conquest Victorious Return Commemoration". The words on the back are "Soldier Reward Association of the five outer villages of Habomai". Habomai are the Habomai islands that are part of the Kuril Island chain north of Japan - they were under Japanese ownership throughout the 19th century and settled with small villages, and were ceded to the USSR after WW2 and are now uninhabited islands. I've never actually seen a cup for this area. The bottom of the cup has the words "Made by Tokyo Shobukai" in the center.
Condition: Excellent - some chipping of the lacquer inside the base ring
Size: 3.75" across