This vintage wooden crate was originally used to export salted salmon roe, known in Japanese as sujiko (筋子).

Identifying DetailsKanji (筋子): The large black characters on the front translate to sujiko. Unlike ikura (individual loose salmon eggs), sujiko refers to salmon roe still contained within the ovarian membrane.

AK56: This is a destination or batch code likely referring to a specific cannery or region in Alaska (AK), a major source of exported salmon products.Origin: The marking "Product of U.S.A." and "For Export Only" indicates it was produced in an American cannery—most likely in Alaska—specifically for the Japanese market, where salmon roe is a delicacy.

These crates are popular as rustic home decor or "re-imported" collectibles. They were commonly packed in Alaskan "egg houses" during the mid-to-late 20th century.