The sign in the photo is a retro Showa-era double-sided enamel sign featuring “Sawaiizumi,” the flagship brand of Akazawa Shuzo Co., Ltd., a sake brewery that once operated in Okayama Prefecture. The bottom of the sign reads “Tamashima City.” Since Tamashima City was absorbed into what is now Kurashiki City through a municipal merger in 1967 (Showa 42), this sign is a valuable artifact from the Showa 30s to the early Showa 40s. The History of “Sawaiizumi” and Akazawa Shuzo Founding and Location: Akazawa Sake Brewery was founded in the first year of the Man’en era (1860) and operated for many years in Kurosaki, Tamashima (Minamiura district) in present-day Kurashiki City—the birthplace of the Bitchū Toji, a region that flourished as Okayama Prefecture’s premier sake-producing area. Background of the Design: The large “gourd” illustration featured on the sign is modeled after a traditional Japanese sake vessel (a gourd-shaped sake flask). Closure of the Brewery: Although Akazawa Sake Brewery had long been cherished by the local community, it was forced to close its doors—much to everyone’s regret—after suffering damage from storm surges caused by a typhoon that struck Okayama Prefecture in 2004 (Heisei 16). Today, the site of the former brewery retains traces of its past and serves as a destination for historical tours and other sightseeing activities. This is a 100% genuine product. The items shown in the photos are all the included accessories and represent the item's condition, so please refer to the photos. International Buyers: Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping costs. These charges are the buyer’s responsibility. Check with your country’s customs office to determine these additional costs before bidding/buying. These duties are paid to your customs office, not us. Prompt payment ensures item delivery.