As the war moved closer to Japan in late 1944 and early 1945, the Japanese began to prepare their soldiers, home guard, and civilian population for the seemingly inevitable US invasion of the Japanese home islands. “Last ditch” pole bayonets were produced with no provisions to attach to rifles, but rather with two holes on the guard to lash to wooden pikes, and with their metal industry in dire straits, the Japanese introduced the Type 4 glazed porcelain ceramic hand grenade. The US invasion of the Japanese home islands of course never occurred, as the need for that daunting undertaking was obviated by the dropping of the atomic bombs in August 1945. Though a fairly large number of these porcelain grenades survive today, they remain wonderful historic artifacts of a once powerful enemy, the “Empire of the Rising Sun”, Imperial Japan. This pair of Imperial Japanese WW2 Type 4 “Last Ditch” Glazed Porcelain Ceramic Hand Grenades are in Very Good Condition, with the lip of one grenade remaining a bit drooped to one side, a chip in one edge of the lip of the other grenade, another chip in one lower side of the body of that other grenade, some scattered small spots of nicking, scratching, and spot darkening to both grenades, and with some light overall age wear evident. Otherwise, the grenades are in fine shape, with no other damage to the terra cotta construction. Most interestingly, they both retain approximately 95% of the original light brown glazed finish, sport the classic exposed terra cotta lip and base, and measure about 3.5” x 3”. They remain inert, and are a beautiful example of rare, original Imperial Japanese WW2 Type 4 “Last Ditch” Glazed Porcelain Ceramic Hand Grenades.