Information on toys made in the U.S. Zone Germany and U.S. Occupied Japan

Map of Occupied Zones in Germany

US Zone Germany Toy Sewing Machine

US Zone Germany was one of the four zones Germany was divided into after World War II when it was occupied by the United States. The US, British, and French zones then combined to become West Germany.

During this time after the war, Japanese and German manufactures were basically banned from exporting although American authorities occupying controlled territories permitted the sale of toys with the markings 'Made in US Zone - Germany' or 'Made in Occupied Japan', regulated through the years 1946 and 1947. After the regulation was lifted, much of the same tooling was used, hence the markings continued into the 1950's. These toys probably owe their high success as popular collectables as many of the baby boomers have fond memories of them today, although "U.S. Zone Germany." items are not, for the most part, highly sought-after or collected in the way that "Made in Occupied Japan " ones are.

Cat made in Occupied Japan

A Sample Occupied Japan Mark

After World War II, the United States also occupied Japan to help rebuild the country's infrastructure because it was devastated by the Allied Forces during World War II. Japan responded and became a world economic power over the next several decades. This means the item was manufactured during the Occupation of war torn Japan. Consequently, it took months before Japan could re-tool the manufacturing process from war to peacetime. The Japanese had to conform to a strict U.S. Government identification process for exporting all manufactured goods and items from this period were marked "Made in Occupied Japan" or "Occupied Japan."

Goods produced for the Japanese market did not require these markings. Thousands of products slipped through customs that were not marked properly. Many items were refused and returned to Japan by custom agents and business owners because they were not properly identified as being made in Occupied Japan. If an item is not marked Occupied Japan or Made in Occupied Japan then it can not be authenticated.

The unofficial Occupation began when Emperor Hirohito broadcast the unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945. It was officially accepted By General Douglas MacArthur on board the U.S. Battleship Missouri September 2, 1945. The new Japanese Peace Treaty was signed and became effective on April 28, 1952 restoring full sovereignty back to Japan and thus ending the Allied Occupation.

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. Unmarked pieces, which otherwise were exactly like the marked versions, are generally valued about 50 percent to 75 percent of the marked pieces, according to the book Today's Hottest Collectibles.

Toys are among the most expensive Occupied Japan items. They were made from metal, tin, celluloid, or a combination of materials. Many have survived over the years, some even with their original boxes. Collectors surmise that because Japanese toys at the time were considered such a cheap gift, they weren't even taken out of their boxes and played with. Wind-up toys marked Occupied Japan start at around $50 and routinely range up to $100 to $200. A rare Mickey Mouse trapeze toy is valued in Today's Hottest Collectibles at $1,000. A wind-up toy skier with a celluloid body and tin skis is worth about $395. A celluloid toy bunny on a tin tricycle is worth $375. A tin and celluloid "Hurricane Racer" is worth $325 if still in its original box. Santa Claus toys marked Occupied Japan appeal to Occupied Japan and Santa collectors. Crossover among categories of collectibles usually drives up values. Three wind-up toy Santa's marked Occupied Japan and listed in Today's Hottest Collectibles range in value from $95 to $225.

When seeking Occupied Japan items, collectors should be alert for rubber-stamped marks on glazed ceramic pieces. This may indicate a reproduction. Sometimes the mark is added to previously unmarked glazed items to make them appear to be legitimate. If fingernail polish removes the Occupied Japan mark, the piece is fake because the original marks are under the glaze. Don't try this test, however, on an unglazed item. Copyright 1999 by Krause Publications ( http://www.fleatique.com/articles.asp?id=959  )