Definition:Made in Japan / Occupied Japan

The ‘Made in Japan’ mark was required on all Japanese goods exported to the United States from 1921 onward, following the US Tariff Act. A specific sub-category is ‘Occupied Japan’ — pieces produced and exported between 1945 and 1952, during the Allied Occupation of Japan, which were required to bear the ‘Occupied Japan’ or ‘Made in Occupied Japan’ mark. Occupied Japan pieces carry additional historical significance that makes them more collectible than comparable post-occupation Japanese production, typically commanding a 20–50% premium for equivalent quality and condition. Both marks appear on an enormous range of ceramic dog figurines — from finely detailed porcelain to mass-market novelties. Quality ranges widely; maker attribution is often difficult for unmarked Japanese export pieces, making individual assessment of modeling quality and glaze execution essential.