Military Sake Cups / Dishes

[jwburchell]

Showing here an assortment of sake cups - all of which I believe to be military - specifically Army, because of the star.

6 items, top to bottom, left to right:
1. Green with a helmet and rifle (Infantry?)
2. Artillery shells pictured
3. showing sakura / cherry blossoms
4. showing two flags
5. showing one flag
6. showing crossed rifles surmounting a cherry blossom (possibly for marksmanship?)

Any and all feedback will be appreciated, especially translation of the "kanji" characters which help with identification of period/war; unit and name.

Thanks and regards,

John

Combined view and cup #1:

[jwburchell]

Cups # 2 & 3:

[jwburchell]

Cups 4 & 5:

[jwburchell]

Cup #6:

[GHP]

1
凱旋記念
Gaisen Kinen
Triumphant Memento


２
野砲十七 国の光
Yahō jū nana "Kuni no Hikari"
17th Field Artillery "Light of the Nation"


３
Academy 10-point Star
工兵電気中隊 [記念]
Kōhei Denki Chūtai [Kinen]
Combat Engineer, Electrical Battalion [Memento]
Obviously a graduate of the Engineer School/Academy

４
第二師団
Dai Ni Shidan
2nd Division

帝国萬歳
Teikoku Banzai
Banzai Empire!!!

工兵
Kōhei
Engineer

山内喜代八
Yamauchi Kiyohachi
[Yama'uchi -- also Yama-no-Uchi -- is the family name]

Depending on the family, it can be pronounced:
山内
Sannai

山内
Yanouchi

山内
Yamauchi

山内
Yamachi

山内
Yamanai

山内
Yamanouchi
... which is why "furigana" (helping letters) is important; i.e., さんない Sannai for 山内

５
記念
Kinen
Memento

兵法第二十聯隊
Heihō Dai Nijū Rentai
20th Infantry Regiment


６
優等
Yūtō
Superior Class
You are correct, it is a marksmanship badge.



--Guy

[zachb]

Nice assortment.

[GeorgeP]

That marksmanship badge cup is very nice.

Your two smaller cups might be personalized and have the soldier's name written at the base of each cup.

Also, the larger cups tend to come in groupings of three. Due to their fragility, the entire set doesn't often "make it" so to speak.

Tom

[jwburchell]

I am most grateful to Guy for the detailed and informative response provided. It is very kind of you to spare the time to prepare such an informative response, sharing your knowledge in this area.

For Tom, you are correct - three of the cups have "Kanji" and markings on the reverse. I hope that these photos are clear enough to be legible.

John

#3 & #4 - reverse side centre:

[jwburchell]

#6

[GeorgeP]

The first base looks to have the family name of Ishikawa. The last two pics. look to be kiln maker marks.


Tom