Hi all, stumbled across this cup on ebay and placed a low bid.

any info on it ? Is it a tourist/commemorative item ? and why does it have two Samurai family Mon on it ?

Probably wont win it, but was very intrigued with it since the combination of these Mon I have not yet come across
on Sake cups.







KM

Hi Henk-Jan,

The swastika on the left is a Buddhist symbol:

http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/s ... astika.htm


The "standing" three-leaf aoi mon is that of the Zenkoji temple:

http://www.zenkoji.jp/img/top/season_im ... top_02.jpg


The bottom side says "善光寺参拝記念,” a commemorative/souvenir of visiting the temple.

The mallet-like symbol in the middle of the bottom side is most likely the mark of the cup maker.

My wife and I are planning on visiting Nagano city, where the Zenkoji temple is located, this weekend. I will see if they still sell cups like this near the temple. If this one on eBay sells at a high price, I think I will buy me a dozen. I will age it first, and then list it as a WW-II item from the days of Nazi Germany & Imperial Japan alliance! Many confuse the Buddhist swastika with the Nazi symbol.

K.Matsumoto

?

Thanks for the info everyone !

KM

Hey I was in that temple last month.
Great place!