2 Toshikane KUMASAKA buttons/Famous Brigand Chief/ Masks for Noh Play/Hand Painted Arita Porcelain/Japanese Theater/For Jewelry or popular Sewing

This listing is for 2 carded Toshikane Noh Mask Arita Porcelain buttons measuring 19mm long.

IMPORTANT: Toshikane made buttons in a wide variety of sizes , if these are to be used as replacements, please be certain that they are the correct size before committing to purchasing.

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The Japanese Noh Theater Masks characters depicted by Toshikane are as follows:

Ko-Omote - Young Lady (Elongated white female mask)
Okame - Smiling maid
Hannya - Green Female Devil
Hannya - Red Female Devil
Okina - Venerable Patriarch

TOSHIKANE ARITA PORCELAIN

"Exqusitness in Carving & Delicacy in Colouring popular - All Done by Hand - The Highest Skill attained by Ceramic Art in Japan" (Motto)

During the 1940's The Toshikane Company from Arita, Japan fabricated porcelain and silver jewelry. Each design comprised a distinctly Japanese look and feel that incorporated iconic local elements such as the Seven Lucky Gods, Noh masks, famous landmarks, exotic bird and flowers. Usually set in silver (950), the porcelain pieces are intricately enameled in a variety of vibrant colors. Vintage Toshikane pieces are highly collectible owing to their high skill in ceramic art.

Central Processing Office (CPO)

WWII devastated the Japanese economy . The war obliterated industrial and civilian communities and it left little to no metal supplies for manufacturing marketable goods.

Under General Douglas Macarthur's leadership, The Central Processing Office (CPO) was established as a US Army division. This was done in order to resuscitate the ailing Japanese economy after Imperial Japan's "Unconditional Surrender" was formally signed on Sept 2, 1945.

OCCUPIED JAPAN

The period from 1945 through April 25, 1952 became known as the "occupied" Japan era and “Made in Occupied Japan” (M.I.O.J.) appeared on manufactured goods. These marks were not mandated until February 1947 by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers who issued a memorandum to the Imperial Japanese Government ordering the use of the words “Made in Occupied Japan or Occupied Japan”. This memorandum was rescinded and made optional in December 1949 but manufacturers continued to use these marks until 1952 for various reasons.

The CPO MARK on Jewelry

During the Occupied Japan Era, manufacturers were required to submit drafts of their jewelry designs (and other goods) with specifications and desired amounts of materials to the Central Processing Office. Once approved , these materials were given to them. The end products that were officially designated for export via Post Exchange (or PX) facilities on military bases, were marked with a diamond-shaped engraving containing the Roman letters CPO or their katakana equivalent シｰピｰオｰ. "CPO"

The "CPO" marking was replaced about two years later by an EP (Export Permitted) marking inside a diamond . The EP marking was used until the early 1970s.

Many Japanese products were sold in the Allied Army military bases in Japan and abroad . The products sold in PX stores were not subjected to the same high taxes as those sold in Japan's domestic market, the markings were applied to avoid tax evasion by domestic Japanese buyers. EP products were shipped throughout the world for all Allied Armies of WWII.

(The Post Exchange (or PX) facilities are trading posts located in bases of the US Army or US Air Force, and operated by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service. Equivalent facilities in bases of the US Navy are called Naval Exchange.)