From September 7, 1945, until April 25, 1952, the Land of the Rising Sun was the land of the Stars and Stripes, as the United States occupied post-World War II Japan.
During those years, items made in Japan for export to the United States, England and India were marked "Occupied Japan."
Little did anyone think at the time that the addition of the word "occupied" on Japanese ware would spawn an entire collecting area that has drawn thousands of die-hard hobbyists.
Figurines are at the top of the list of OJ collectibles.
The appealing porcelain and bisque figures depict a broad range of subjects, from whimsical maidens such as the one shown to prosaic items of daily life such as the telephone.
Occupied Japan (OJ) collectors are a label-conscious lot. Unmarked pieces, which otherwise are exactly like the marked versions, are of little interest to them. An unmarked item's value can fall to 25 percent that of the same piece marked OJ.