Lacquerware, Desk? set in box, help with ID and age

I picked this up at a yard sale yesterday. All the pieces are actually wood so they must have some age to them. Tray, box, letter holder, and the other thing lol.
The box itself is pretty cool and looks like hand decorated?
I was hoping to attract one of our awesome translators to help with the tag also

Mikey

 

"and the other thing" - maybe for holding paperclips? Or an ashtray?

 

Well, it's Japanese, of course. Looks like a calligraphy writing set. Try this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuri-bako

Debora

 

I was wondering what it might be. The tin insert comes out and the top which had been glued to the base has come apart. Easy fix for the new owner.

 

so the box is Japanese to?

 

The tin insert is designed to hold water.

Debora

 

It's difficult to see what your item is from your photographs but I would suspect the fabric-covered presentation box is Japanese as well because the top item (a tray?) fits snuggly in it. Looks as if bottom is missing liner.

Debora

 

The bottom cloth used to come up the sides. There used to be padding under it but it was gone. I removed the cloth and tried to clean it up but some of the stains didn't come out

 

To hold a matchbox?

 

Pretty typical Japanese lacquer smoking set - tray, cigarette box, ashtray, matchbox holder...

~Cheryl

 

Thank you, Cheryl, for correcting the mis-information I posted (and apologies to the poster.) And, of course... Likely a G.I. souvenir.

Debora

 

Thank you all very much. Now if I could just get that tag translated.

 

Yes same characters, Probably the same.
And WOW. that is high

 

Hong Kong dollars, not US

 

Ouch..

 

Early showa period at best. But for $5.00 I can't complain.