🎎 Vintage Blue Aluminum Milk Cup – Showa-Era Kindergarten Japan

This bright blue aluminum milk cup from Japan’s 昭和時代 (Shōwa period, 1926–1989) offers a charming window into the daily routines of young children in Japanese 幼稚園 (yōchien – kindergarten) or 保育園 (hoikuen – nursery schools). Lightweight and practical, these cups were commonly issued to children for warm milk during snack and lunch breaks—part of Japan’s robust postwar school lunch program that aimed to nourish a growing generation.

The riveted metal handle and brushed aluminum interior point to a utilitarian design characteristic of the mid-20th century. The hand-etched name 細川 (Hosokawa) is inscribed on the underside—a personal touch likely added by a parent or caregiver to help a young child keep track of their belongings.

With no manufacturer stamp visible, and without the 富士 (Fuji) logo sometimes found on similar pieces, this cup may have been locally produced by a regional workshop—further enhancing its value as a one-of-a-kind artifact. It’s finished in a vivid blue enamel exterior, offset by a raw metal interior marked with faint tooling rings from its production.

This item bears visible signs of use: light scuffing, dings, and scratches that echo the active days of children long grown. Its character and wear are testaments to a life well-lived, and it stands today as a heartwarming artifact of Japanese domestic and school life in the Showa period.

Dimensions & Details:

• Height: 4.5 cm

• Diameter at rim: 7.5 cm

• Diameter at base: 4.5 cm

• Weight: Approximately 20 grams

• Material: Aluminum

• Era: Mid to Late Showa Period (likely 1950s–1970s)

This cup would make a delightful display item for collectors of Showa-era artifacts, educational memorabilia, or anyone with a fondness for the small rituals that shaped daily life in 20th-century Japan.

Curated with care by Kurt Bell in Shizuoka City, Japan—this piece is part of a larger journey through Japan’s tangible memories and enduring beauty. Every item tells a story, and this one speaks in the quiet voice of a child’s midday meal, of laughter in wooden schoolrooms, and of parents preparing a small blue cup for another day of growing up.