Japanese military Operation Nekka sake cup

This Japanese porcelain sake cup from 1933 was given to a discharged soldier from the 10th cavalry supply battalion after Operation Nekka (January 1 – May 31, 1933). This operation is also called the Defense of the Great Wall campaign by the Chinese and the First Battle of Hopei by the British. During this battle in the 2nd Sino-Japanese War, Japan captured the Mongolian Province of Rehe. The gold horse depicts the cavalry and the gold star is a symbol of the Imperial Japanese Army. Sake cups were officially commissioned by the military for various purposes, but most often were commissioned by the men themselves to commemorate enlistment or the completion of their military service. Sake is a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice. The sake bottle was part of the Nick Welman private bequest to the University of Pretoria in 2010.