NABESHIMA YAKI-Ceramics of Okawachi, Imari, Japan

    This has a similar mark to the Okawachi Oniwa Kiln Ichikawa Koshun

Kiln but is slightly different.

大川内の御庭焼　市川光春

鍋島大秀 Nabeshima Ōshu

鍋島　虎仙

Kosen Gama

Seizan 青山

TOBISEIJI 飛青磁

Tobi Seiji 飛青磁, literally means "flying Celadon" in Japanese. It is a style of ceramics that refers to the Chinese Longquan ceramics of  the 13-14th centuries. This style is highly regarded in Japan. It is often found on tea ceremony ceramics, especially from Kyoto. 

Ei-Sei-Sha: Ceramics of Himeji 姫路永世舎 (社)

This mark was a long time coming but am so pleased to finally know its origin.

Ei Sei Sha was established in 1877 (明治十年) in Himeji by Matsumura Tokimasa (松村ときまさ) who was born in 1838 in Hizen Arita Saga Prefecture. 

https://kotobank.jp/word/松村辰昌-1111248

http://nippon-porcelain.com/兵庫県、永世舎の花瓶/

http://www.hijiriya.com/himezi_image2.html

http://www.hijiriya.com/himezi.html

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/chnyd092/34812547.html

http://www.hijiriya.com/himezi_zinbutuhyou.html

http://blog.livedoor.jp/momo2011/archives/2012-05.html

Helpful Resources for Deciphering Japanese Scripts

Internet Links

http://www.nihongoresources.com/dictionaries/universal.html

http://www.nihongoresources.com/language/writing/typefaces.html

Books

Identifying Japanese Seal Script by Markis Sesko

Importer-Seymour Mann, Inc.

Seymour Mann Co. inc was founded in 1946. They imported many products made in Japan from knick- knacks, and figurines, to vases and dinnerware.

       Vase from Mann's Imperial Dynasty line 

Bakumatsu Blue

While researching ceramics of the Edo Bakumatsu period (roughly 1853-1867) I noticed a blue color combination (medium gray/blue with a darker, but not cobalt blue, often  with (墨弾) Sumihajiki, a resist method used to on ceramics to leave white areas when painted or glazed.  I will call this "Bakumatsu Blue". Not all ceramics made during the Bakumatsu period used this blue combo, but it was widespread.  Similar combinations were used much earlier in the Edo period with slight variations. 

Japanese Military and Memorial Sake Cups

This is certainly a work in progress. I will continue to add as I find examples.

SITES FOR RESEARCHING

https://militarysakecups.com/

https://www.militaryantiquesmuseum.com/js388-1930s-japanese-sake-cup.15048.archive.htm

https://www.facebook.com/militarysakecups/

http://www.stewartsmilitaryantiques.com/sake-cups.53.html

https://militarypackrat.com/t/wwii-japanese-sake-cups

Yamatoku with additional decorator marks

I am researching Yamatoku marked plates that include additional markings. It appears that Yamatoku produced blanks which were then decorated by others. I have found several marked by decorators.

Thanks to Maggie Xiao for permission to use her pictures 

Hizen Arita  decorated

The Yamatoku ヤマトク mark is off to the left side combined with the red Hizen/Arita mark

Tetsuka decorated

The Yamatoku ヤマトク mark is at the top with the red 

Tetsuka テツカ mark (up side down) on the bottom. 

Tetsuka or Tezuka is often found with the Yamatoku impressed mark

Here is an example of a Taisho era blue mark with Yamatoku impressed mark

http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~urakudo/inban_MSW-0021.html

A Matsu mark with a roof meaning house of Matsu. The decorator?

 This mark is sometimes found on Yamatoku pieces.

Lefton China-imported from Japan

Lefton China was a US importer of Japanese china wares, figurines and novelties. Although the company was founded in 1941, it was after WWII that they imported wares. Some will have "Made in Occupied Japan" but most will just have some variation of Lefton China, Handpainted, Japan. The company was sold in 2000. 

Shimamura Sei (島村製) made by Shimamura

Shimamura decorated porcelain for export in the latter Meiji period and early Taisho period. 

http://blog.livedoor.jp/momo2011/archives/2459846.html