In 1960's, there was a time when knitting and crosheting was super popular in Japan. With the boom, many knitting tools are made in Japan.

This is a yarn holder. Made by porcelain. It has maker's name on the bottom, Tachikiti, a famous porcelain maker in Japan.
There is a hole on top of the lid from which you can draw yarn out.

Rist yarn holder for crocheting. Few use it in Japan now. I bought this in Canada.
Made in Taiwan.