Glassware crafted between the years of 1945 and 1952 are known as Occupied Japan pieces because those were the years after WWII that Japan was occupied. Occupied Japan glassware can have a special significance to Americans as those years are connected to the dramatic events that started WWII. December 7, 1941 was the date Japanese planes bombed an unsuspecting Pearl Harbor and everyone who was alive then knew exactly where they were when they heard the news.

Japan was occupied after WWII
The Japanese surrendered after two atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. One of the terms in the surrender agreement authorized the Allied Forces (mainly Americans) to occupy Japan. The goal was to help rebuild Japan after the devastation from the bombs, but not to let it get to such a level as it could re-arm its military to inflict damage again on the United States.

Fifty percent of Occupied Japan glassware and other items had to be marked as such when they entered the United States market. They are rare finds today and are highly valued in the collectibles market. The markings might say either “Made in Occupied Japan” or “Occupied Japan.” You might also see “OJ” or “Japan” used as markings, especially if the glassware is part of a set. Allowing the sale of Japanese handcrafted articles was, in part, a contribution from the United States in helping the Japanese economy recover.

Emotions were running high in America
This era of time was a highly sensitive one in America and emotions were running very high against Japan and its people. The bombing of Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor was devastating. Certainly, most American citizens were not interested in “helping” Japan, the country that became our enemy for a time and was responsible for the lost lives of many loved ones. These feelings of hostility toward Japan’s actions of WWII lasted several years, and still last today in the minds of those who are still alive and remember that time.

Occupation was identification
The only way many Americans would purchase these products from Japan was to have them identified in a way so as to ensure the world knew, they were “occupied.” This reflected this first time in history that the country of Japan was occupied by a foreign entity. Also, many Americans didn’t want to give their money in a purchase to the people of Japan, who, in their mind’s eye, caused such trauma to the United States.

The significance of these Occupied Japan collectibles, to some, almost makes the statement with the purchase that acknowledges the Allies won the war and Japan had to admit defeat in the end. From 1950 to 1952, 90 percent of the products exported from Japan were kitchen and glassware.

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The manufacture of salt and pepper shakers began in earnest when an easy method of ceramic production was discovered in the 1940s. After that time, nearly every collectible category you can imagine had a set of salt and pepper shakers included with it. Given their small size and the need for only limited space to display, collecting salt and pepper shakers was quite a popular hobby and remains so today.

Reasons to collect
Several incentives exist for collecting salt and pepper shakers. Two reasons are that they are easy to collect and display, given their size, and they are relatively inexpensive to purchase. True collectors will amass hundreds of sets of every kind of salt and pepper shakers imaginable, and they will have stories about each and every set.

Bygone eras
Vintage salt and pepper shakers from days gone by can bring back fond memories for an earlier period. Salt and pepper shaker sets that are representative of former eras and allude to times past will capture your thoughts and help you reminisce about those earlier times.

The history of salt and pepper
Before salt and pepper shakers were introduced for the purposes we know today, salt was often kept in a family’s cellar, in a block. If you wanted salt, you had to go to the cellar and chip a section off. The very first salt shakers contained an “arm” of sorts inside the container to chip the salt into smaller pieces before it shook out as the salt was still in “chunks,” albeit smaller chunks, when it was first introduced to the shaker. You would then shake the smaller particles out for use. Those early models were called salt “mills.” You can still find examples of salt mills around today.

The same can be said for pepper, although there are many pepper “mills” still is use today. In fine restaurants, you will be asked if you would like your server to add some “ground” pepper from peppercorns to a food involved with your meal. They then proceed to turn a grinder which breaks up the course peppercorn inside the container into a more usable version of the fresh, spicy accompaniment for your taste buds.

Production materials
Salt and pepper shakers are manufactured from a variety of materials including ceramic, clay, glass, stone, plastic, and wood. A salt and pepper shaker set can be found to suit any taste, any mood, and any collection. The varieties are endless and allow collectors a multitude of choices.

Souvenirs
Travelers and tourists have been purchasing salt and pepper shakers as souvenirs of places visited for family and friends, as well as for themselves, for many years. They are easy to pack in luggage for your return trip home, and they make memorable collectibles that are great for gift-giving.

Collector clubs
Collectors of salt and pepper shakers enjoy sharing their treasures and stories with like-minded enthusiasts. When you join a salt and pepper shakers Collectors Club, you become a member in a group of people who have the same passion for collecting salt and pepper shakers as you. Club members get together to attend salt and pepper shakers collectible conventions where all kinds of exciting treasures and exotic finds may await you.

If you collect, well, anything, chances are quite good that you will be able to find several salt and pepper shakers that will fit right in to your particular category of collecting. If you collect frogs, roosters, pigs, cats, dogs, and the list goes on into infinity, you will enjoy looking for that next salt and pepper shaker set addition that will grace your collection so magnificently.

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