About The Occupied Japan Collector Club

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The Occupied Japan Collector Club

Gen. Douglas MacArthur had no idea what he was giving birth to in 1945, when he set up headquarters in Tokyo after World War II and was entrusted with governing the defeated nation. His mission: to revive Japan's economy.

Between 1945 and 1952, under MacArthur's command, all factories were instructed to print "Occupied Japan" or "Made in Occupied Japan" on their products. What began as a simple means of identification for U.S. import authorities has become the alpha and omega for a growing number of collectors.

The range of products lumped under the "Occupied Japan" rubric is astounding in its diversity, but most collectors focus on ceramic figurines or toys. Unlike most collectibles, these objects reflect virtually nothing about their producers. Instead of embodying Asian cultural traditions, Occupied Japan merchandise mimics American and European models. Imitation Hummel, Royal Doulton, Meissen and Victorian ceramic figures of sentimentally depicted dogs, dolls and babies make up the bulk of Japan's output during this period.

Florence Archambault explains that the Occupied Japan Club's newsletter is called The Upside Down World of an O.J. Collector because "the first thing you do when you see something that might be a collectible is turn it upside down and look for the `Occupied Japan' mark." An exception: items that are not individually marked, but are packed with other items in a box with the mark.

In the ceramics category, certain pottery logos, including Paulux, Andrea and Ardalt, bring higher prices. Pairs of figurines are worth twice the value of a single figure of comparable quality (ranging from $8 to $30). In general, larger figurines are more scarce and worth snapping up. A toy with original packaging may be worth at least 10 percent more than one without.

Reference: 1997 Article by Hugh Heart, Chicago Tribune

Join our Occupied Japan Club and you will receive The Upside Down World of an O.J. Collector newsletter each quarter. The fee is $25 a year.

Please contact the club treasurer, Kathy Gardner, at: klgardner@yahoo.com direct until we have created a an automatic online form and payment method. For your records, don't forget to copy yourself.

The Aris Collection

Hobby Ceramics

Cast Iron Banks

Collectible items made in Occupied Japan during the summer of 1945 through the spring of 1952 while U.S. troops were in the country. The entire collection is up for sale and includes all documentation.

As of March 2023, Agnestelle Hobby Ceramic Shop only has finished pieces for sale. All molds, bisque and supplies have been turned over to Emma's Ceramic Studio (ECS).

Authentic still and Mechanical cast iron banks from the Collection of Charles Westley Atwood. These banks were first manufactured in the late 1800s, to instill the concept of earning saving money.