Oriental Bowl in box.Need help

I lucked into this little bowl at a local auction but I can't get much info on it.Plus I'm not sure if it's Chinese or Japanese.I was thinking China but I was told elsewhere it was from Japan.It's 4.25 inches across and almost 1.5 deep.The box it came in is slightly larger but not by much,it has to lay on the side at an angle to fit.

I was told the phone numbers on one of the cards were to hotels.Don't know.

Here are the pics of it,the box and 2 business sized cards that were inside.Is anyone able to translate the writing? And maybe have an idea about the year it was made?Also the box is a work of art in itself.It's 3 pieces stapled together at the corners and then the striped paper is over this.The lid is made the same way and the staples actually turn the corners.How cool is that?

Thanks in advance.You folks here are all pretty much awesome!
http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/t...ebowl001-1.jpg

http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/t...esebowl002.jpg

http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/t...esebowl003.jpg

http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/t...ebowl001-2.jpg

http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/t...ebowl002-1.jpg

http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/t...ebowl003-1.jpg

Writing looks Chinese to me....................but I'm no expert!! It's a lovely piece!

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Originally Posted by HerMajesty

Writing looks Chinese to me....................but I'm no expert!! It's a lovely piece!

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Thanks.That was my thought at first too.

the 571 area code makes it Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
and the 342 area code is Shanghai China


So I think we can take it that it IS Chinese

I have only had a quick peek but I think you will find the writing is Japanese.

I recognize the writing on the second line 東京 = Tokyo. Another consistent symbol along the lines of the top few is 都 - this is used after Tokyo to indicate the city centre area. When I worked over there those symbols used to flash up on my useless GPS navigation system when it knew it was roughly in Tokyo but not sure where!

Brings back memories, I can see the Japanese for Sendai as well 仙台.

It doesn't look well enough decorated to be a quality piece.

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Originally Posted by astral276

It doesn't look well enough decorated to be a quality piece.

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I didn't expect to retire off it.I'm just curious of it's origin.It's no Ming Dynasty but the quality is much better than if it says "made in China"