Sorry from going from the Middle east to the Far east but it's only a small distance on a chart, is it not ?
About twelve inches on my map
I had a load of those, tea and coffee sets, Geisha Girls head in the bottom of the cups, gold dragons along the side. Made in Japan, I always got them from Aden, they were ten shillings each in early 50s, . In my local every time I was going east or to Oz I would have an order for around ten sets, Paid ten bob and sold them for two pound ten, two pounds profit on each one equal to two days pay. Then having just paid off I was always paying for everyones ale including the Landlords and so the money just disapeared back over the bar again.
I have still got one of each sets in my cabinet.
I still have the music boxes, black laquer with a bridge with two geishas walking over with a house and Fuji Yama in the distance and those other music boxes in wood with ivory mosaic and a shelf for ciggies inside.
Still have and use my photo album from Suez all leather with a picture of the pyramids on, bought that on my first trip nearly 60 years ago. still in good condition.