TracA

Azyeoman,

Beautiful badge. It is always a great bonus when you also have the case.

Any idea what the badge is for?

Tracy

Greetings, No One.

Below is my tiny contribution to this wonderful thread.

All the best,

Tracy

Mine arrived yesterday. Beautiful pin. Thank you Nick, and thank you for everything that you do for the GMIC. My knowledge of my collecting area has grown exponentially because of your site and those on it who participate.

All the best,

Tracy

Thank you for the links. Fascinating reading.

All the best,

Tracy

No One,

Wow. I had no idea that the PLA had a presence in Djibouti. Very interesting.

Tracy

Nick,

No need to apologize. Thank you for the information. It is much appreciated.

Tracy

Hello No One and JapanX,

Thank you both for all of the great information and clarification of the kanji issue related to my question, and Nick, thank you for the time coordinate information related to the Meiji/Taisho style vs. Showa style. I will certainly keep this in mind.

You have both helped me tremendously as I try to work through my case lid kanji questions. It is by no means easy and now I partially know why I dropped out of my fifth semester Japanese language class when I was in college, 36 years ago. 😃 On the other hand, perhaps I shouldn’t have dropped out of that class. 😔

All the best,

Tracy

The last post in this exceptionally helpful thread (to echo azyeoman) was about 15 months ago. Perhaps my addition will help to close the loop.

See Martin, Michael J. Japanese Military And Civilian Award Documents 1868 - 1945. Atglen Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 2016.

This book was suggested to me by No One and I have found it to be a very informative and educational work.

All the best,

Tracy

Using my Internet search skills I find that the kanji indicating that the number coming after it is an ordinal is 第. Below is a picture of the first two characters of two, for example, Order of the Rising Sun case lids. The one on the left identified as a Showa period 4th class and the one on the right identified as a Meiji (and Taisho?) period 6th class. 

Here is my question: the first kanji below are to my mind different stylizations of the same kanji but are they stylizations of 第 or are they stylizations of a different kanji?

As always, all assistance is greatly appreciated.

Tracy

Greetings,

I just obtained this wonderful Post 2003 Reform Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays. The triangular ribbon is approximately 45mm wide by 40mm long, light blue with a 4mm yellow stripe that is 3mm from each edge. The award is approximately 46mm by 74mm. The reverse and outermost rays are in silver, the innermost rays and rest of the badge are in gold. 

On the reverse the hallmark F5 is stamped at the bottom of the paulownia leaf at 6h.

All the best,

Tracy

Obverse:

Reverse:

Hallmark F5:

Coming back to this thread after a while. 

Above I posted one of my Women’s Patriotic Association Special Supporter Member Badges (yellow enamel) and some subsequent research, courtesy of JapanX’s reply, led me to determine that it is an example of the 5th variation. Below is a picture of another WPA Special Supporter Member Badge that I just picked-up. Given the pin construction this is either the 1st or 4th variation, but the shape of the two central leaves at 6h determine that it is indeed an example of a 1st variation badge. 

See: Medals of Asia at https://asiamedals.info/threads/special-supporter-member-badge-of-womens-patriotic-association.25981/

Tracy

I just picked-up this book, written before Coox's monumental work. Not a historical, grand overview. Apparently a detailed focus on the IJA's 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division.

Hello No One,

That JOMSA cover article, was it written by you?

Sincerely,

Tracy

Below is my example of the Showa Enthronement Commemorative Medal. This one has a hallmark ‘N’ on the top of the suspension ball. I think that the medal is quite beautiful.

Question: are there any known time coordinates for this ‘N’ mark? Any ideas which manufacturer it might represent?

Thank you.

Tracy

Obverse, with 萬歳 for “Banzai” under the pavilion:

Reverse with 大禮記念章 for Grand Enthronement Commemorative Medal inside the banner and on the bottom edge from about 4h to 8h reading 昭和三年十一月 for Showa 3rd Year 11th Month, i.e. November 1928:

Mark ‘N’ on the suspension ball:

Purple case, with the name of the medal on the lid in gold kanji:

Nick,

Got it. Thanks much.

Tracy

Hello Nick,

Please excuse the ignorance of my question, as I know nothing about award documents, but why is it that in this (these) instance(s) the indications of Rising Sun orders and Sacred Treasure orders are indistinguishable? Just trying to pick-up a bit of knowledge.

Thank you, as always.

Tracy

Nick,

As always, thank you for sharing your knowledge.

All the best,

Tracy

My next installment for this topic is The Imperial Capital Rehabilitation Commemorative Medal with ‘M’ mintmark. My example has a beautiful tarnish to it and the ribbon colors are vivid (a replacement ribbon?). The ‘M’ mark of the Japanese Mint, Osaka, is on the top of the suspension and it is oriented towards the reverse of the medal. 

Per Medals of Asia the earliest known ‘M’ mintmark is from August 1930, and that datestamp actually corresponds to one of these medals. So I would say that this medal is at least from August of 1930.

Question: does anyone know when the Japanese Mint stopped minting The Imperial Capital Rehabilitation Commemorative Medal?

Enjoy.

Tracy

Obverse:

Reverse with the central column of 帝都復興記念章 for Imperial Capital Rehabilitation Commemorative Medal and on the bottom edge from 4hr to 8hr 昭和五年三月 for March of the 5th Showa Year, or March of 1930:

‘M’ mintmark on the suspension:

Case lid, which has the name of the medal in gold kanji:

Greetings,

I just took possession of a magnificent Order of the Sacred Treasure 3rd Class, in a case for foreigners including the purple tasseled cords, with four rivets on the reverse and the Osaka mint mark ‘M’ directly below the rivet at 6hr. The cravate is very pale blue with pink stripes; the rosette is the same colors. No hallmarks on the rosette. Instead of the oval type clasps that I have seen, this cravate has a small wedge-like piece with a locking ball that slides into the slot of a gold colored piece on the other side of the ribbon.

With some research on this very forum and at the Medals of Asia website, and assuming that the rosette is original to this award, I think that this piece might date from the mid- to late-1930s. Any and all suggestions/corrections are welcome.

Enjoy.

Tracy

Obverse with rosette:

Reverse with ‘M’ mint mark:

Cravate fastener:

Case lid:

Inside of the case lid:

Dear No One,

Thank you very much for the correction and sharing your knowledge. Both are greatly appreciated.

All the best,

Tracy

I have another acquisition to add to this thread. It is another Ordinary/Regular Member Badge but this one has an attached cord and the instructional paper wrapper for affixing the cord. Two things to note:

• The cord appears orange in color and on p. 56 of In the Name of a Living God... by Murphy and Ackley they state that these badges are sometimes found with orange cords affixed to them. However, while I can find references to red, white, and purple cords (see https://asiamedals.info/threads/history-and-badges-of-greater-japan-womens-patriotic-association.23765/) I find no reference to orange cords. Is there an error in Murphy and  Ackley regarding the color of the cord? Do my eyes deceive me regarding the color?

• The pin fastener on the reverse of the suspension bar is different from the other two Ordinary/Regular Member Badges that I own (one of which is posted above), and therefore so is the placement of the kanji on the reverse of the suspension bar. See below for the examples side-by-side (well, sort of).

Finally, I’m am quite sure that the kanji on the top of the instructional paper wrapper, 紅組弦, means “red cord/string group”. The kanji on the right, however, has me a bit stumped. I believe it is 糸ニテ括ル. I think that it means something about the length that the cord knot should be from where the cord is wrapped around the link from the suspension bar and the planchette, but I am just not sure. Any and all translation assistance is appreciated.

Thank you, as always.

Tracy

Obverse:

Reverse:

First type pin back (not a good photo) and then the pin back type with this badge:

Instructional paper wrapper: 紅組弦 “red cord/string group” and 糸ニテ括ル meaning ??

Greetings Everyone,

I have another addition to this thread. A few weeks ago I obtained a wonderful Order of the Rising Sun 8th class with a lapel bow and Meiji case with gold kanji. The best part about this piece? The prominent ‘M’ mint mark on the reverse at 6h, the mark of the Osaka Mint. Some preliminary research (see Medals of Asia https://asiamedals.info/threads/mark-m-on-japanese-orders-and-medals-who-and-when.14818/ and https://asiamedals.info/threads/silver-kanji-vs-gold-kanji-lettering-on-the-lids-of-the-japanese-order-cases.26112/#post-357009) and the assumption that the case was the case of issue leads me to date this medal from sometime between March 1930 to 1940. Any and all thoughts and corrections to that are welcome.

Enjoy.

Tracy

Obverse with lapel bow:

Reverse:

‘M’ mint mark up a little closer:

Case lid:

No One,

Thank you for the answer to my kanji question, and for posting the two varieties side-by-side. Always useful for comparison purposes. Ah yes, even others who have written about Nomonhan acknowledge their indebtedness to Mr. Coox.

All the best,

Tracy

Greetings No One,

Beautiful example. This is one of my favorite medals. I love the ribbon color and the design. I like the color of the presentation box as well. I find the choice of a dove, the symbol of peace, to be quite optimistic. 

Question: do the four central kanji on the paper wrapper translate to “service badge”?

The definitive history of this apparently little known battle with direct consequences for the course of WWII is probably Nomonhan: Japan Against Russia, 1939 by Alvin D. Coox. I have the single volume paperback edition. It is a massive tome. The text is printed in about 8 or 9 point font and the work is 1,132 pages including chapter endnotes, which are printed in about 4 point font. The work also includes a 57 page bibliography. About 20 or so years ago I tried to finish the book but only made it to p. 671. It was a very tough slog. 

Your example looks like the “fat dove” variety. You can see my example, which I believe to be the “thin dove” variety, on this thread:

https://gmic.co.uk/topic/79450-is-there-a-standard-group-for-ww2/#comment-717257

All the best,

Tracy

Eric,

Thank you for the information.

Tracy