Sake Cup

[Brian]

Thanks to Stephen for this wonderful sake cup I received today. Nix's birthday is in 3 weeks, and she will love this for her collection.

Wondering if someone can provide a translation. It is in a lovely old box, and looks quite old. Wondering if it is earlier than WW2..maybe Imperial?

 

Brian

[Fuuten]

Though its hard to say anything without translating the kanji.

 

It looks like a wooden sake cup classic red lacquered with makie. Box if i had to guess ±50/60 years old. Looks just about right

 

Edit: it looks almost chawan sized or maybe its the way the photo came out.

[Brian]

Diameter is 11cm (4.3") and the center logo has an anchor, so Imperial Naval related?

 

Brian

[Stephen]

With the sword, anchor, and Imperial flag ill be shocked if not!

[Stephen]

pic with two kanji one on right is ko

[SteveM]

山形懸出身

小野貞六氏贈品

朱木杯一個

今井鍬吉（花押）

 

To Ono Sadaroku

(born in) Yamagata prefecture

Crimson Sake Cup (one)

(From) Imai Shūkichi

[Stephen]

Steve is that just the box or cup also?

[SteveM]

The box. The cup itself says 

 

Ono 小野

 

and 

 

Present Imai kun/kimi? 　贈今井君

 

I'm confused about the 君 in the line above. Kun attached to a name is an honorific (used for subordinates or those younger than yourself) so you wouldn't attach it to your own name. In another context it can refer to the emperor (君万歳), but it doesn't seem have that context here. So, I'm slightly puzzled.  

[Brian]

Thanks Steve, I appreciate it. Nix loves it.
Hopefully someone will be able to clarify the 贈今井君
So would this have been a gift given on leaving the service, entering the service, or maybe just during service? Can we confirm it is Imperial navy, and anyone have a date estimate?

[John A Stuart]

I think 贈今井君 "Okuru Imai-kun", just means "presented to Mr (junior to the presenter) Imai". John

[SteveM]

That's what I would have thought, but then the writing on the box seems to be contrary to that. There is no honorific on the box for Imai, which would be weird, yet there is an honorific for Ono (on the box). So... that's why I'm puzzled.

 

Edit: Yes I think John is right again. It must be Imai who is the recipient (and the sender is Ono). The lid is strange to me. Maybe it was written by a third party, but its still odd. At any rate, there are no other clues as to the year or the organization. Could be wartime, could be post-war veteran's association. The kanji for prefecture - 懸 - is the old style kanji. The Ministry of Education simplified some kanji in the late 40's. Of course not everyone follows the government guidelines, and old habits persist, so the old kanji could still have been written in the 50's or later. The cup itself is in beautiful condition.

 

(Maybe Imai-san wrote the description on the lid himself, to remind him who gave the cup to him?)