Gensui

Be patient, my friend!

Why? Are you smaller then 170cm?

"der kleine Mann" would be a nice expression/translation

I basically agree with you for this low number. But honestly, I don't think much more medals due to the neglible number of recipients. Unfortunately, not all medals are given with numbers...

I wonder, who it is...

Nick, I’m not a nitpicker. Especially about this rarity, it doesn’t make a big difference for a man in the street, if 10 or 18 golden medals be circulating. But it’ll be interested to know your sources. I have the figures from the (Japanese) source: MINISTRY OF FINANCE (edit.) (15 March 1974): Hundred years of history of the mint”, page 379. BR, Chris

18 in gold, 2251 pieces in silver?

Yep! "M" and "1000" on the ring. Sorry, my camera doesn't allow better makro-pictures...

...the wrapping paper

...the medal

Dear all, I’m happy to share my latest acquisition with you: A nice set of the Manchurian Imperial Visit to Japan Commemorative Medal. What makes me happy is the fact that this set came with the origin wrapping paper. BR, Chris

Like this one? http://www.ebay.com/itm/WW2-JAPANESE-ORDER-OF-THE-GOLDEN-KITE-MEDAL-/281107396932?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41734e7944 BR, Chris

Waaa, and I thought EMS is for "Express Shipment Tracking"

…what really hurts me is the fact, that this set was broken into several auctions. Hopefully, the lucky bidder will be able to get it complete…!

Hi, I would say "Terasawa Gentarô", but not sure about his family name "Terasawa". BR, Chris

Depending on the quality of the stamping tools, isn't it? We are talking about a medal, which was minted in the 1870s. Maybe a time, where quality WAS an issue?

...would love to see a picture without / with removed ribbon...

Nick, Is my understanding is correct, that there are differences in the stamping of this medal? Or just the same stamping tools, which are hardly used as time went by on and didn't had a "sharp/clear" stamping. Do anybody know, if there were more then one set of stamping tools for this medal? Considering the number of awarded (produced?) medals, hard to believe more then one stamping set... BR, Chris

...and re-activated/active from 11 November 1914 until 12 April 1918. Approx. 850 POW were interned during this time. (Source: http://bando.dijtokyo.org/?page=lager_detail.php&p_id=3&lang=ja) BR, Chris

Claudius: Well, I'm doing my best to speed up! Hopefully, within next year...

That's exactly, how the Germans and Austro-Hungarians did! They tried to cheer themselves by playing theatre, music, having lessons (like in School), making "tournaments" on catching rats, etc. Firstly, after some heavy complaints, a local hotel at Narashino city (!) supplied food to the prisoners. After a couple of weeks, the Germans were allowed to prepare their own food, using their kept animals (chicken, cow)... What impresses me most, is the change in behaviour during WWII. Remember, how winners treat their prisoners...

Unfortunately no! "PhD-regulation madness"!

Nick, Looks like the Russian soldiers had the same "inconvenience" like the German and Austro-Hungarian guys 10 years later! Did the article mentioned anything about the so-called "barbwire psychosis"? Seems like this was a big issue for the Germans during their stay from September 1915 (re-establishing / re-opening of the Narashino camp) until the late 1919s... BR, Chris