Japanese, WW2, Type 4 "Last Ditch" White Ceramic Hand Grenade, Inert

*Japanese, WW2, Type 4 "Last Ditch" White Ceramic Hand Grenade, Inert*

Approximate measurements: 7.5cm diameter

Japanese Type 4 Ceramic Hand Grenade. This example is offered in excellent condition in the harder to find white body.. The Type 4 Grenade, also known as the Ceramic Grenade, was a “last-ditch” weapon developed by the Imperial Japanese Navy during the final stages of World War II.

By late 1944 and early 1945, Japan's industrial infrastructure had been heavily damaged by Allied strategic bombing, and raw material shortages worsened due to naval blockades and submarine attacks. With insufficient metal resources to mass-produce conventional hand grenades, the Imperial Japanese Navy Technical Bureau created a low-cost, easily manufactured grenade made from ceramic or porcelain.

Traditional pottery kilns in regions like Arita, Bizen, and Seto—renowned for their ceramic craftsmanship—were repurposed to produce these rudimentary weapons. As a result, the grenades varied significantly in shape, size, and colour depending on the kiln of origin.

The Type 4 grenade featured a fragmentation body made of terra cotta or porcelain. It had a rounded body with a bottle-like neck, capped with rubber. The ignition system was rudimentary: a simple fuse with a blasting cap crimped to a five-second delay. The exposed end of the fuse was coated with a match-head compound and protected by a removable rubber cap. Inside the cap was a small wooden block with an abrasive surface used to ignite the fuse.

These grenades were distributed widely to civil defence units such as the Volunteer Fighting Corps and the Yokusan Sonendan, as well as to reservist groups preparing for a potential Allied invasion of the Japanese home islands. They were also issued in large numbers to front-line troops and saw use in major battles, including Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

*Condition*
Excellent used condition. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.

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