pieter1012

Hi Nick, as I wrote earlier, I got them (already quite some time ago) from a longtime Japanese collector friend, who used to be a researcher at an university in Tokyo. I think he is retired now, although with Japanese you never know if they really retire. He had good contacts with researchers from the Government and Kunaicho archives. I think he assembled the figures by going through the Imperial resolutions. His main interest is certificates, especially those who have the signature of the Emperor. Pieter

Nick you are completely right, it should read 22 of the 1st cl and 120 of the 2d. The numbers I gave are the totals for the whole period. Also I made a spelling mistake, Munchuraian should ofcourse be Manchurian. Pieter

Hi Nick, Mr. Nakabori mentions only the total numbers of Golden Kites awarded per war. to sum it up again; Japan-China war (1894-95); 2000 China 1900 (Boxer rebellion); 200 Russo-Japanese war (1904-05); 109600 1914-15 war (Tsingtao); 3000 1914-1920 war (Europe & Siberia); 4800 Tsinan Incident (1927-29); 70 Munchuraian Incident (1931-34); 9000 China Incident (1937- 40); 107000 He gives no figures for the Pacific war. The number of classes awarded I have from another Japanese collector, but he only has researched the figures for the 1st-5th class of the Golden Kite. Next to the numbers I gave you already for the Taisho period, he has for the Meiji periiod cummulatively; first cl 17, second cl 85, third cl 463, fourth cl 2250 and fifth cl 8400. For the Showa period he has only figures for the first and second class, 42 and 210 respectively, unfortunately no numbers on the lower grades. Pieter

Hi Japan X, according to the late Mr. Nakabori, a well known Japanese collector of orders & decorations, for the Japanese actions against the German possessions in China and the Pacific, 3000 Golden Kites were issued (Taisho 3-4 nen). For the participation of the Japanese in the Mediterranean and the dispatch of troops to Siberia 4800 Golden Kites were issued (Taisho 4-9 nen). Numbers of the higher classes of the Golden kite awarded during both periods first cl: 3, second cl: 5: third cl: 30, fourth cl: 200, fifth cl: 600. You omitted the Boxer rebellion (China 1900), according to Mr. Nakabori for this action 200 Golden Kites were awarded. Hope this little contribution helps you with your study on the types issued. Regards, Pieter

Thanks Jeff, I guess this limitation only applied to Hawaiians and foreign recepients were excluded? Mine was awarded to a Japanese citizen. Since it existed for only ten years, I suppose the number of grand-officers actually awarded will probably be not so much more than the number you mentioned. Pieter

I have a question on the order of the Crown of Hawaii(Hawaii Ke Kalaunu) and perhaps one of the members can help me. I have in my collection a Grand Officer set of this order and I wondered how many of this class were awarded during the short span of existence of the order from 1882 till 1892. The set is cased and exists of a four pointed silver star with the cross in gold on it, and a 88mm wide sash (white with blue edges) without the cross as stipulated for the Grand officer. Any information on this order and the numbers awarded will be much appreciated. Pieter

Hi Paul, I am new to Gmic, and since I am a longtime collector of worldwide ODM I find this site quite interesting. As I have lived in Japan for some time, I have been able to collect Japanese ODM including the certificates. Your Masterclass on Japanese certificates is very useful, especially since the average collector would not be able to read them. If I may add some information which you will know already, but may be interesting to other readers. When the document would be signed by the Emperor the first column on the righthand side of the seal will read something like " under Our sign manual and affixed with the Imperial seal " wheras a certificate without the signature would only mention the Imperial seal. Interesting is that during the last year of his reign Emperor Meiji was sometimes too ill to take care of affairs of state. Certificates that would usually carry his signature were issued with only the Imperial seal, but the text on the certificate would still say under Our sign manual etc. I presume these certificates are scarce. As you mentioned already elsewhere in this thread, when the Taisho Emperor became longterm ill, Crown Prince Hirohito became regent, and he signed with both his father's and his own name. If I remember correctly you wrote that you have such a certificate for the Rising Sun with Paulonia Flowers, awarded to a Brish Field Marshall. I don't have the figures including foreigners, but the number of Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers awarded to Japanese during the regency is 20, and these certificates are therefore quite rare.