Occupied Japan porcelain teacups and saucers. Adorable vintage pair of teacups and saucers orange and cream with pearly finish.

The teacups are 7 cm high, 11 cm long and 9 cm large.

The saucers have 14 cm of diameter.

American occupied Japan from September 1945 until April 28, 1952. In February 1947, the General Headquarters, administrative arm of the American occupying forces, ordered all products made for export to be marked “Occupied Japan” or “Made in Occupied Japan.”

World War II devasted the Japanese economy. The Japanese ceramic industry was one of the first to be revitalized. Using aid from the United States, Japanese ceramic manufacturers began producing ceramic knickknacks for sale to the occupying American soldiers. Within a short time, an active export business, especially to the United States was underway.

Thousands of inexpensive figurines and knickknacks were exported to the United States and elsewhere in the late 1940s and early 1950s.