I’m going to tell you about treasure and treasure hunting, (the treasure in this case is Occupied Japan Collectibles).
This is a story about what happened, after Japan surrendered, at the end of WWII, that brought about the creation of manufactured ceramics / porcelain dishware and figurines, stamped with the addition of the words “Occupied Japan”.
I will tell you a little bit about how Occupied Japan Collectibles came to be.
This writing will show a few ceramic figurines, a tea set, cups & saucers, a dinner plate, a covered casserole dish & their manufacturing stamps.
It All Began With War
The story begins in the early 1930s. The Tokyo government took over a Chinese province, (Manchuria), which Tokyo renamed Manchukuo.
Time passed, then there was a clash at the Marco Polo bridge near Beijing, (this was on July 7, 1937).
These actions (along with other things happening with Hitler and his allies), seemed to cause the United States to react in a way that they hadn’t done so in the past with China. The US government gave it’s first loan to China, (1938).
On December 7th, 1941, Japan’s military launched a surprise attack on the United States Naval Base, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
War takes it’s tole on men, women, children, farms, businesses, structures and machines, but finally (after time, battles and bombs), Japan surrenders.
This is not a story about war. If you would like to better understand this topic, to begin, go to http://www.britannica.com and read “Pearl Harbor Attack”.
The War Has Ended. The Nation of Japan and Their People Need Help
Japan’s occupation had been discussed and was agreed on by the Allies in a series of wartime conferences.
The occupation was supposed to be a joint occupation by international powers, but the majority, of the governing of the nation of Japan, was entrusted to the U.S. forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur.
General MacArthur’s mission, was to revive Japan’s economy.
Due to the occupation, from 1945 to 1952, factories in Japan were told to print “Occupied Japan” or “Made in Occupied Japan” on products.
And so, Occupied Japan collectibles came into being.
Interest Takes Off with this Collectible.
Interest in Occupied Japan grew in the late 60s.
Many Occupied Japan collectibles were seen as affordable and easy to identify.
Gene Florence was an author of at least 5 books on the subject of Occupied Japan collectibles.
He was regarded by many as the foremost authority in the field.
You may see Occupied Japan ceramics, manufactured under the name Ardalt, Andrea or Paulux, (being higher priced).
Mr. Florence said, “What’s interesting is that these were marketed in the downscale 10 cent stores of the time and considered inferior, but…a lot of these pieces were actually of very high quality”.
Tidbits of Information and My Feelings about Occupied Japan Collectibles
Dinnerware sets are said to be overrated, if you intent is as an investment. The problem often is no matching pieces, (this plate is beautifully decorated, but finding matching pieces might be problematic).
All of the pieces featured in this story, were manufactured 70 years ago. All survive post Occupied Japan, (from 1952 to present day).
I got lucky with this pattern, as one day, I found another cup and saucer just like the one I had found years ago.
I love cups and saucers, tea sets and beautiful dishware, but figurines are fun too.
Most times, larger figurines are more valuable, as they are more scarce.
If you find a pair of figurines and a comparable quality of a single figurine, the pair will bring a better price, (often twice the value), of single figures.
Figurines 8″ or less are more common, so not as valuable.
A Warning
You do have to beware of forgeries.
Be warry of anything plastic, (there is doubt that any Occupied Japan pieces were made of plastic).
On ceramics / porcelain be warry of “Occupied Japan” lettering that appears as “perfect”. I am repeating this concern from statements I have read, but, I find this interesting as the only piece I have, that I am concerned with is my Victorian Era Man, (see my comments about it under the image of it’s stamp).
Treasure Hunting
Did you know, there is still treasure out there to be found, if you know what is a treasure and where you might find it? Now, wouldn’t you like to go on a treasure hunt?
A few of the pieces you see here, were passed on to me, by my mom, but I am a treasure hunter.
The majority, of the pieces pictured, I found in thrift stores.
I call it treasure hunting, because you never know what you will find, it’s always a hunt and often you find a treasure, like any one of these lovely pieces.
I enjoy, treasure hunting and decorating my home, with these beauties from the past.
I think many of you out there might enjoy treasure hunting for Occupied Japan too.
This website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Before using this site, read our terms and conditions/disclaimer page, Click Here
Below the Subscribe button, you will find a collection of post with a wide variety of topics. Just click on any title of any story that you feel you might enjoy reading.
If you haven’t already done so, Subscribe to Joy With Jan, so you can get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
Recipe – Handmade, Homemade Egg Noodles
I have been making handmade, homemade egg noodles since I was a young girl. My mother would make them to add to her homemade chicken noodle soup broth. I grew up making the noodles and the chicken noodle soup broth with her and as an adult woman, I make them for my own family. They…
Arts and Crafts – Double Sided Floral Arrangement
This article was written to teach you how to make your own double sided floral arrangement. A double sided floral arrangement is a terrific thing to have. Simply by turning your arrangement around, you can have a different look for you room. I made a double sided floral arrangement as a door prize for one…
Collecting – Hall China
I was a little girl when I first saw a piece of Hall China…… Who would have thought at that time that the pieces we used everyday, would wind up being sought after collectors items.
Games – Cribbage
My husband and I love to play both card and board games together. We especially enjoy playing a game called Cribbage which uses both…… I am going to teach you how to play cribbage with two players.
Restaurants – Camp 18, Elsie Oregon – Breakfast, Things to See and a Hike
When my husband and I first met, for one of our first dates he asked me out for breakfast and a hike. He wanted to take me to Camp 18 in Elsie Oregon. I hadn’t ever been there. I hadn’t ever heard of it. It sounded like fun (and to go there with a handsome…
Travel – Cruise Alaska on the Norwegian Pearl – Part 3, Our Remaining Three Excursions
We had decided to go horseback riding in an Alaskan forest for our third excursion…..They did warn us that we could come across a Grizzly Bear….. For our forth excursion, We arrived at the port of Ketchikan. We were ready to go to see the lumberjack show. If you decide to go to Ketchikan as…
Travel – Cruise Alaska on the Norwegian Pearl – Part 2, Up Through Our First Two Excursions
Just One Thing Before You Start Reading This Post This is the second post of a three post series. If you haven’t already read it, you might want to read; “Travel – Cruise Alaska on the Norwegian Pearl – Part 1, Prepping for the Cruise”. My son and I planned this trip a year in…
Travel – Cruise Alaska on the Norwegian Pearl – Part 1, Prepping for the Cruise
My youngest son and I decided to go on an Alaska cruise together. We wanted to go for one week. I had heard fantastic reviews about Norwegian Cruise Lines and I had been in contact with a lady who works for Norwegian. She could help us set everything up. Her name is Lynn. She is…
3 to 6 RV Camping Things You Must Have for “Parking and Leveling”
Even the most experienced RV camping set up person may find something new and helpful from reading this post….. The following items are an important part of recreational vehicle camping (RVing). Detailed in this post are 3 to 6 very important things needed before you go on that RV trip (depending on your RV, not…
10 RV Camping Things You Must Have for “Gray and Black Water (Sewer)”
Gray and Black Water (sewer items) are an important part of recreational vehicle camping (RVing). Detailed in this post are 10 very important things needed before you go on that RV trip. This doesn’t mean this is all you need but this is a great beginning. If there is something more you feel you should…
9 RV Camping Things You Must Have for “Clean Water”
Even the most experienced RV camping set up person may find something new and helpful from reading this post. Don’t hesitate to forward a link to someone who you feel will benefit from the information within. Clean water items are an important part of recreational vehicle camping (RVing). Detailed in this post are nine very…
5 RV Camping Things You Must Have “Electrical or Electronic”
Electrical / Electronic items are an important part of recreational vehicle camping (RVing). Detailed in this post are five very important things needed before you go on that RV trip. This doesn’t mean this is all you need but this is a great beginning. If there is something more you feel you should get or…
Travel and Entertainment – The St. Paul Rodeo in St. Paul, Oregon
When you go to the Annual St. Paul Rodeo in St. Paul, Oregon, USA, there is so much to do and see. I love the carnival rides there. I love the food at the fairgrounds. I love to go see all of the animals and go to the rodeo. At the end of it all,…
Easy Recipe – Cornish Game Hens with Orange Sauce
During big holidays, my mom would often cook up a wonderful Turkey dinner. During those meals, I would decide to have some breast meat or some thigh meat. I might decide on a wing or maybe I wanted a leg! I didn’t typically have a little of all of these things though. When it wasn’t…
A LAN Party and Custom Built Computers
This post is about custom building a computer to bring to a LAN party. If you haven’t ever done so, you might have fun going to a LAN party. My husband, our eldest son, our youngest son and I, all signed up to go to a PDXLAN party (hosted in Portland, Oregon). We had such…
Travel – Boundary County Historical Museum – Bonners Ferry, Idaho
If you are someone who enjoys going to museums, I found a museum you might like to visit in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Bonners Ferry is in Northern Idaho. It is only 27 miles (43km), to the Canadian border from there. Bonners Ferry is the county seat in Boundary County, Idaho. Boundary County Idaho is one…
Travel – Cape Disappointment Trail and the North Head Lighthouse – Ilwaco, Washington
During one of our camping adventures, we decided to go to a popular, nearby hiking trail that ends at a lighthouse, (we were camping at Fort Stevens in Hammond Oregon). We were heading to Cape Disappointment and the North Head Lighthouse.
Travel – Bonneville Fish Hatchery – Cascade Locks, Oregon
A place to go, where you will see fish (millions of fish), waterfalls, ponds, ducks, huge sturgeon!!!!! You might even fall in love there, like I did!!!!! You should go!!!!!
Easy, Moist and the Most Flavorful Roast Turkey Breast
I love a Thanksgiving dinner, but it is a lot of work. I always roast a turkey, make stuffing, mash potatoes, candy sweet potatoes, I make a vegetable, my daughter typically makes homemade cranberry sauce and we have side goodies, (like black and green olives). Afterwards, we always have pumpkin pie. Uhhhhhh, it’s 10:02 and…
Fort Stevens State Park and Campgrounds – Hammond, Oregon
I don’t really want to write about this place….cuz…..I want to keep it all to my self, bwahahahahahahaha, (maniacal laughter)….. Ok, you twisted my arm. I’ll tell you all that I know…. A day came when my husband suggested, for fun, we should go camping. Well, after great thought, many discussions, (and a purchase or…
Fast and Easy Homemade Dairy Free Cream Cheese Frosting
I promised that I would post a frosting recipe, to go with the carrot cake recipe I recently posted. Well, here is the second of two recipes. This one will be for a frosting made with a plant based, dairy free, cream cheese frosting alternative. For those of you who would be happier with a…
Fast and Easy Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting
I promised that I would post a frosting recipe, to go with the carrot cake recipe I recently posted. Well, Here is the first of two recipes. This one will be for a frosting made with traditional cream cheese. For those of you who would like a healthier choice for your frosting, or for those…
Fast and Easy Home Made Chicken Teriyaki
My daughter and I started with hunger. We came up with a plan. We decided to make a fast and easy meal. She and I ended up making the best tasting home made chicken teriyaki we had ever made together! Ok, honestly, we hadn’t ever made chicken teriyaki together, so, yes, it was the best…
My Daughter’s Turkey Meatloaf
We went to visit my daughter, (sleep over)! We had some ground turkey that we had just bought, so, we figured we would bring it with us. My daughter offered to make us dinner, (lucky us)! I asked what was on the menu. Well, she said she had a great recipe for turkey meatloaf. I…
Nehalem Bay State Park
My husband and I love RV camping, (Glamping, as my daughter puts it). If you are looking for lots of outdoor activities, Nehalem Bay State Park is the place to go. If you are driving down highway 101, along the Oregon coast, the park is about 2 miles south of Manzanita. It’s at 9500 Sandpiper…
Armitage Park Campground – Eugene, Oregon
Wouldn’t you love to take your trailer or motorhome to a place with grass, trees and a nearby river with trails for you to enjoy? A place where if you like, you can even simply pitch a tent. Nature would be all around you, but also conveniences like paved parking pads with full or partial…
The Good Earth
The Good Earth was a best selling book in the United States. It was so well received, that the author (Pearl S. Buck) was awarded a Pulitzer prize for fiction and later in her career, she won a Nobel prize for literature. The Good Earth is a story about the life of a poor farmer…
My Daughter’s Chicken Fried Rice
My daughter came over and offered to make dinner for us. I said, “Heck Yes”!!! I asked her what she had in mind. She asked me what I had in the house. Well, I had quite a bit of boneless skinless chicken breasts and a bag of mixed vegetables in the freezer. That was a…
Pole Green Beans, (Organic Whenever Possible)
There are bush green beans and pole green beans. You may ask what a pole green bean is. A pole green bean is a green bean plant that will reach out and grab hold of a pole, to assist itself in an upward climb. This kind of behavior is called Thigmotropism, (and now you have…
Rummy
My Grandma taught me to play Rummy when I was a little girl. We used to play for hours. She always made hot tea for me (she called it little girls tea as it was more cream and sugar than tea). She also sat a tin of Danish Butter Cookies on the table for us…
My Husband’s Chicken, Vegetable Soup with Mini Farfalle
Ingredients, (try to use organics whenever you can). Ingredients for baking 2 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast; Ingredients for cooking in the soup pot; Begin By Baking the Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts Set the oven rack to the center position in the oven and preheat to Bake at 350 degrees. Cover a baking tray with aluminum…
My Husband’s Easy Potato, Ham and Vegetable Soup with Mini Farfalle
Ingredients, (try to use organics whenever you can) Directions Put the liquids in a cooking pot, (2 cups, Organic Chicken Stock) and (4 cups, Organic Potato Leek Soup) in a 6 quart, (minimum), cooking pot. I love this GreenLife brand, Soft Grip Diamond Healthy Ceramic Nonstick, 6 QT Stock Pot with Strainer Lid. Once the…
Organic Potatoes Grown in Buckets
I had successfully grown, zucchini, patty pans, straight neck yellow squash, bell pepper, green beans, radishes, tomatoes and even celery, (celery is considered to be a challenge to grow, even by experienced growers). I wanted to learn to grow potatoes. Had You Heard ? I heard that you can not grow potatoes from grocery store…
Camping, (or Glamping), In Our Little Chalet
My husband and I discussed camping for the first time, early on in our relationship. He’s a rough it kinda guy. When we met he had a tent, 2 canopies, sleeping bags, a lantern, coolers, a propane grill, a standing outdoor shower and a portable toilet seat that sits on a 5 gallon bucket (along…
Five Straight
Five Straight is a board game for 2 to 9 players. The idea of the game is to be the first to place 5 of your assigned colored pegs in a straight line, (diagonally, horizontally or vertically). Sounds simple, right ? This game is addictive, but just the same, it’s recommended for ages 8 and…
Dust
Dust is a bio-thriller, written by Charles Pellegrino. I bought his book, many years ago, and started to read it. It sucked me in from the start…. you might say, it devoured me…. If you like bio-thrillers, you are going to want to read this book. Do not start reading with chapter one! Begin with…
Cards, (So Inexpensive)
A standard deck of cards can be used to play hundreds of games. The more the deck is used, the lower the cost of the entertainment it provides. Lets say you buy a standard deck of cards and they cost you $5.00. You and a friend sit down to play a fast paced game called…
The Clan of the Cave Bear
The Clan of the Cave Bear is a novel of prehistoric fiction. The book begins with a natural disaster that leaves a small child abandoned and alone. The child is found by a Clan of Neanderthals and is saved, but has to learn to live a very different life than that which she was originally…
Gleneden Beach in Oregon
Would you like to walk where you can see creatures from the distant past? Want to see fossils sticking out of the rock at your feet, as if someone carved a treasure in rock for you to see? I was amazed to see remnants of creatures long dead, gone and morphed into rock, laying there…
Prey
Prey is a science fiction, techno-thriller, horror book. This book was written by Michael Crichton. He was the author who wrote Jurassic Park, Congo and The Andromeda Strain (just to name a few). Michael Crichton and his wife Anne-Marie Martin were paid 2.5 million dollars to write the screenplay for the movie Twister. This author…
Cards and Hoyle
A Memory I have always played card games, (well, as far back as I can remember that is). Memories of playing card games, started with my grandma. I would go to her house to spend the night. At some point in the evening, she would bring out a standard deck of Bicycle brand playing cards.…
One thought on “Collecting – Occupied Japan”