Gensui

Thanks, Lambert for your information! Anybody able to confirm/correct the name on the certificate? BR, Chris

Bingo! That was my same thought! ;)

Absolute stunning, Nick! Do you know, if the hook & eye were attached/produced by the same mint, which made the medal? BR, Chris

How about your thoughts about below photo of this ribbon? There are one (big) point, I'm wondering about, but won't tell you yet. BTW, it's a ribbon of a Const. Medal. BR, Chris

Nick, great job! Highly appreciate your overview! Don't listen to "something" :P

Thanks guys! I'm starting to become sober- birthday's at Saturday is like a gift! @The Prussian I'm really looking for to our next meeting!!! Don't worry, I know where I am from and I know where I belong to BR, Chris

...Eye fixing and award document...

Gents, As it seems like my former post about my Japanese Victory Medal was deleted due to the re-structure of the forum, I’d like to post my set again. Recently, I got a (cased) Victory Medal with an award document. The award document was issued in 1920 (Taishô 9) to a Kaigun Shoi/Naval Special Unit Ensing. I’m not sure with the kanji reading of his name, but would assume Hashimoto Kosen (Esen?) The case is slightly damaged. The medal has no mint marks. I thought, Medal has a replaced ribbon due to the fact, that the ribbon is pretty stiff with bright and light colours. Beside this, I was wondering about the fixing of the eye, which is fixed with a plate on the backside of this ribbon. Thanks to Dieter and Lambart, who read my former post before deleting, they dissipated my doubts about the authenticity of this ribbon. Some questions anyhow for this medal. Is it known, until when it was produced in Japan? Or maybe it’s still in production, e.g. for vets or collectors? Does anybody know, where it was (is?) produced? At the mint in Osaka and/or Hiroshima? Sorry for this creepy photos. I’ll try to make better one if needed! BR, Chris

I'm glad to see you here, too! Well, hopefully I'll finish my PhD in 2014 - latest Keep in touch, Chris

Thanks, Brian! Und Dir auch, Falk BR, Chris

As long as they are not missing will be a good indication... Why not taking experience from one field to another? Nope! If I would fake ribbons, a more intense coloured ribbon would be too suspicisous! Looking for to read this! BR, Chris

Thanks for your comments, Nick! Well, of course above mentioned thoughts refers to ribbons on Imperial German medals (here: Iron Cross 2nd class). I was just wondering if these “options” are holding truth for Japanese ribbons as well. If somebody would burn down the whole ribbon, no need for judging if authentic or not I’m not sure, if I get this point. Can you explain “attachment gear”? Of course, this seems to be an obvious point. You know, I don’t have a penchant for paranoia (although – need to ask my friends) and don’t see ghosts. But I promise you: give me one modern ribbon, and I will make it less intense in colours and get rid of the “chemical feeling”. And even the luminescence can be avoided by the right treatment… Another thing, which just pop-up my mind might be the hook and the eye. I guess, there are differences as well? Probably caused by different makers/mint? BR, Chris

Gents, Talking about authenticity of any items is always an important topic for me to discuss, especially before starting to spend several hundreds or thousands of Dollar/Euro/PoundYen for a supposed “origin, unworn item”. I’m just wondering if there are any investigations here about the authenticity of ribbons on Japanese medals? For example, how to detect any ribbons on medals, which are replaced with modern ones. As you may know, there are some common possibilities, how to check the authenticity. There are some wonderful threats about this topic in the German SDA forum for German items. And I am just curious, if these conclusions can be adapted to the ribbons of the Japanese medals. (Note, that the pictures and information are from following link http://h1797427.stra...r-alt-oder-neu/) ) Option 1: Checking luminescence with a black-light lamp Attached picture shows an authentic, non-luminous ribbon (left side) and a modern copy (right side). Of course, it only make sence, if the ribbon contains some white parts... Option 2: Counting the stitches / strings This is an arduous research work, but might be worth it to do. As you can see on attached picture, there are two ribbons. The warp threads differ here (see white dots). While the left was detected as an authentic one, the middle one is a new produced piece. In addition to this, we have Option 3: Haptic Are there any possibilities to “feel” the difference of an authentic ribbon? E.g., new ribbons are made of rigid material, etc.? There might be a fourth and FINAL option, which should be avoided and only seen with a bit of mind jogging: Option 4: Burning test While old (cotton-made) ribbons started to burn, new (synthetic-made) ribbons are glowing. Of course, nobody should burn the whole ribbon, but maybe a single stitch to check it. Looking for to your reply and br, Chris

Thanks for your welcoming words! @Nick, The world is small, I know Claudius from another forum

Well, for me as a newcomer, I would appreciate a „want-list“ in this forum, since I’m starting to build-up my collection BR, Chris

Gents, After some sensitive pushing from several sides, I’d like to through a hajimemashite, doitsu no kurisu to môshimasu! into this round. How should I start without being too boring? As you can see at my avatar, I have a special relation to the Imperial Japanese navy, since I studied Japanese Studies with focusing on the development of the early Japanese Meiji navy. Currently I’m preparing my PhD about a German commander of a German force in Tsingtao, who was imprisoned between 1914 and 1919 in Japan after the fall of the former German leasehold Kiautschou. I’m mainly collecting Imperial German Navy tallies. But for some time past, I’m addicted to Japanese decoration, especially the war- and commemorative medals and any suitable award documents. And if the documents are issued to any navy members – perfect! So if you need some space in your collection, your almost welcome to send any messages to me As I don’t only want to collect the items itself, but keen to learn about any stories behind (e.g. award criteria, production facilities, etc.) I think this forum might be the right address. Since my knowledge is still pretty poor, the number of questions may top my qualified comments, which I need to apologise for in advance. Anyhow, I’m always interested in some hints or comments and looking for a fruitful exchange and hope to learn a lot from this forum. Yoroshiku onegai itashimasu! Chris