YY Japanese Porcelain

Q: I have a teapot marked “Y.Y” in a circle over the words “Made in Japan.” I’d like to know who made it.

A: This mark was used on porcelain items made for the Yonemoto Store in Honolulu, Hawaii. Hiromune Yonemoto (1911-2004) was one of the owners of the store. The porcelain pieces were made in Japan but were often decorated in Hong Kong. Most of the pieces offered for sale today are from the 1960s.