Antique Japanese Enamel Shochu Advertising Sign “Chinzan” – Pre-War / Early Showa Period A rare antique Japanese enamel advertising sign bearing the inscription: “焼酎は椿山” Shochu wa Chinzan The small katakana characters チンザン beside 椿山 indicate that the brand name was read “Chinzan.” This is an old Japanese advertising sign for a shochu brand called Chinzan, featuring bold white lettering against a deep red enamel background. AGE AND HISTORICAL INFORMATION The exact manufacturer and production date of this sign have not yet been identified. However, another surviving enamel advertising sign for the same “椿山 / Chinzan” shochu brand has been documented in Japan and described as a pre-war Japanese enamel advertising sign. That surviving example has a different format and dimensions, so it should not be regarded as identical to the present sign. Nevertheless, it provides useful evidence that advertising signs for the Chinzan shochu brand existed in the pre-war period. Based on this comparison, together with the construction, typography, enamel finish and extensive natural aging of the present example, this sign is considered likely to date from the pre-war to early Showa period. The exact year cannot be confirmed, and the original distillery or manufacturer of Chinzan shochu remains unidentified. DESIGN The sign has a distinctive narrow vertical format with a vivid red enamel background and large white Japanese characters. It reads: 焼酎は 椿山 チンザン The simple and highly visible design is characteristic of traditional Japanese commercial advertising intended to attract attention from the street. The sign is single-sided, with a mainly black enamel finish on the reverse. Mounting holes are present at the top and bottom, indicating that the sign was originally intended to be fixed to a wall, pillar or other structure. DIMENSIONS Height: approx. 42 cm Width: approx. 11.5 cm Maximum depth: approx. 0.5 cm, including the curved profile Weight: approx. 198 g MATERIAL Enamel-coated metal / porcelain enamel CONDITION Authentic antique condition with substantial age-related wear. There is extensive enamel loss, exposed metal, rust, corrosion, scratches, discoloration and surface wear, particularly around the edges, corners and mounting holes. The sign also has some bending and deformation and is not completely flat. The reverse shows further enamel loss, scratches, rust and other signs of age. These imperfections have not been restored and form an important part of the object's authentic aged appearance. Please carefully examine all photographs, including the side and reverse views, for the exact condition. COLLECTOR APPEAL This is an unusual surviving example of early Japanese shochu advertising. The combination of the striking red-and-white enamel design, the historic “Chinzan” shochu name and the heavily aged original surface gives the piece considerable decorative and historical character. The manufacturer of Chinzan shochu has not yet been identified, which also makes this an interesting piece of surviving Japanese commercial history associated with a now-obscure liquor brand. Suitable for collectors of Japanese enamel signs, pre-war advertising, Showa-era memorabilia, vintage liquor advertising, shochu memorabilia, Japanese shop signs and antique commercial objects. The item shown in the photographs is the actual item offered for sale. It will be carefully packed for international shipping from Japan. ### keywords Japanese enamel sign, antique enamel sign, Chinzan Shochu, Shochu Chinzan, Shochu wa Chinzan, 椿山, チンザン, 焼酎は椿山, pre war Japan, pre war Japanese sign, early Showa, Showa era, Japanese advertising sign, vintage Japanese advertising, antique Japanese advertising, Japanese liquor sign, shochu advertising, Japanese alcohol advertising, porcelain enamel sign, enamel advertising sign, Japanese shop sign, liquor store sign, Japanese bar decor, izakaya decor, Japanese breweriana, shochu memorabilia, Japanese commercial history, antique Japan, retro Japanese sign, Japanese collectible ■ Please Note ■ Shipping Information: Items are shipped from Japan. As this involves international shipping, please be sure to check the shipping costs before placing a bid. Items are packed with great care to prevent damage during transit. Shipping costs are calculated based on the net weight of the item, packaging materials, and the weight of the shipping box. Depending on the situation, items will be shipped via DHL, FedEx, UPS, or Japan Post. Delivery typically takes 1 to 3 weeks. Import duties, taxes, and fees are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. You may be contacted by phone or email by customs authorities in your country or the shipping carrier regarding customs clearance procedures. Please ensure you are available to answer the phone. If the carrier is unable to contact you, the package will be returned to us, and you will be charged double the shipping fee for re-shipment. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.