'Occupied Japan' soup bowl

Round soup bowl with decorative floral design. The rim has ornate beige floral transfer design interrupted at each quadrant by a red floral design overlapping slightly into the bowl proper. Four individual rose motif transfer designs are featured equidistant around the cream internal side of bowl. A gold scalloped ring around the internal base separates the cream sides from the white internal floor. In the centre of the exterior base is a maker's mark. The mark is a red floral wreath on a cream background surmounted by a scroll with decorative finials. In the scroll is printed 'YAMAKA'. In the centre of the wreath, in gothic script, is printed 'YM'. Loose ends at the bottom of the wreath flow out horizontally surmounting the city name 'TAJIMI' flanked on either side by a small cream flower. Curved around the underside of the maker's mark is 'MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN'. There is a large chip in the underside of the rim.

This bowl is an example of Japanese manufacturing from 1945 and the establishment of the United States military occupation of the country, to 1952 and the return of Japanese independent government. During this period many manufactured goods were marked 'Made in Occupied Japan'.

The British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF), including Australians, supported the US Military Government by supervising Japan's demilitarisation.