Occupied Japan Marks
As Japan's wartime economy wound down and Japan's collectibles industry and factories began producing porcelain, ceramics, pottery, and china again, the Japanese producers added marks to their wares stating that the goods were "Made in Occupied Japan" or simply, "Occupied Japan". It was not just our antiques that received the stamp, as other items made in Japan and shipped to the US also received an Occupied Japan marking.
Based on stories that I have seen on the internet, there is some dispute as to why some goods were given new stamps, though it is clear that some of the exports from Japan to the United States continued to carry the "Japan" and "Made in Japan" marks, or no mark whatsoever. I have seen one story that a U.S. importer, upon discovering that goods did not carry the Occupied Japan mark, ordered the products stamped while in the United States.
Based on the stories that I have read, it seems clear that there was a rule requiring that at least some of the goods imported into the United States from Japan contain a mark designating the products as from Japan. One account detailed this rule as a requirement of a treaty between the United States and Japan, and another indicated it came from the U.S. Customs office. The extent of the enforcement and application of this rule is unknown though, as I have seen stories implying that only products that were expected to be subject to inspection by customs officials were marked.
A more practical explanation was that U.S. buyers were hostile to products made in Japan, but the occupied japan marking suggested that some of the profits might go to the repayment of war reparations.
Although the occupation of Japan officially ended in 1952, the occupied japan mark may have still been used on products shipped over the next couple years. I have read that because of the continued use of equipment created during the period of occupation, the Occupied Japan marks were included on some items as late as 1955.
The quality of the goods with the mark, of course, varied greatly. Some items were mass produced and sold in the United States for dimes, and others were high quality productions worthy of Japan's history in the collectible industry.
Now that items which were made in Occupied Japan receive a bit of a premium in the United States, some disreputable sellers have taken to adding their own Occupied Japan stamp to products which were not marked. Care should be taken to avoid these items, if possible.
I'm sure that many have come here looking for photographs of the occupied japan and made in occupied japan markings, and I'm sorry to disappoint. There is an extensive collection of photographs of occupied japan marks compiled by a collector here, and the quality and variety of markings is beyond anything which I could compile without a lifetime of collecting occupied japan items. I look forward to having such an extensive collection at some point, but until that time, I hope you'll visit her Occupied Japan collection of marks.
Here is the list of markings which manufacturer's marks which she has photographed.
| * Adline * Aladdin * Ardalt * Berkshire * Castle * Celebrate * Cherry * Chubu * Chugai * CMC * Diamond * Echo * Fen Toi * Fleur de Lis * Gold | * Grace * Hurricane * Jyoto * Kakusa * Kipp Ceramics * Kutani * Kyokuto * Lefton * Merit * Mikado * Nasco * Noritake * Ohata * Orion | * Princess * Regina * Rossetti * Saji * Sango * Shofu * Seto * Silver * SK * Trimont * Tokyo * Ucagco * Wako * Yamaka |