Gunjinantiques

I'll never get tired of BoB! The greatness of the series outshines any small flaws. And I'm not saying that just because one of the people involved in making it is a good customer of mine either I hear a Pacific War version is due out soon. Don't know details. Hey, I'm

I couldn't agree more. Some people think they can pass stuff off without people getting wise to them. Perhaps they feel emboldened by the fact they sell over the net and not have to lie to a buyer's face. And again, you're too right, there's a constant flow of newbies ready to hand them over cash for items they have no idea about. My philosophy is, "hey, I'm sure there's some person into silk weaving out there that would love a WWII era Greater Japan Silk Weaving Association membership badge. No reason to pass it off as some Imperial Japanese Army this or Navy that..." And no reason to lay awake at night fretting about how I cheated someone. The only thing I want keeping me up at night is the History Channel or when Band of Brothers is on at 2 am on some odd channel. Oh, and booze & girls!

Get stung too? I hope not.

We wouldn't even need the maxim, "buyer beware," if the seller was honest. Looking for short term gains by lying to customers is such a bad business plan, he'll regret it in the end no doubt.

Probably made like the others, just no die for the back, and the material isn't very good quality...

The one with the blank back was made to go inside a frame to be hung on the wall. I've owned a few of them. They are the poorest quality, but well worth having in a collection of course as a weird variant...

I'm sure the guy who just won this (eBay item# 120515972190) will regret it. The seller put this for the title and description: Title: "WWII JAPANESE NAVY YOKAREN STUDENT SWORD AWARD 1930'S" and description: "HERE'S A RARE ITEM, IT IS A WATCH FOB AWARD, PRESENTED TO A STUDENT IN THE JAPANESE NAVY YOKAREN PROGRAM (STUDENT PREPPING FOR NAVAL FLYERS SCHOOL) IT IS DATE IN 1930'S AND GIVEN FOR SUPERIOR SWORDSMANSHIP , NOTE THE KAMIKAZI INSIGNIA OF CHRYS FLOATING ON WATER ON FRONT, AND MILITARY WREATH ON REVERSE, COMES WITH THE NICE WATCH CHAIN SHOWN IN THE PHOTOS, AND THE PAPERBOARD BOX. sOLD AS SHOWN." I emailed the guy and said that who ever sold it to him wasn't honest in the translation, that it should be this: "The kanji on front reads KEN (Sword), which is short for KENDO (The Way of the Sword). The back reads DAI 6 KAI NICHIDAI KOUGYOU KENDO BU (The 6th Nihon University Industrial Kendo Club) and KOUKI 2595 (Imperial Year of 1935). The symbol in the center is the Nihon University symbol. "Nichidai" is short for Nihon Daigaku: http://en.wikipedia....ihon_University" The seller replied with a very nasty message to me. Obviously he knew he trying to pass off a kendo medal as being Japanese navy related. Lot's of BS on eBay now more than ever. I guess when times get tough people resort to lying. It was a cool badge too, no reason to lie about it! Silly.

I was satisfied with the selling price. Sad to see it go though.

I kind of have my doubts there was a seperate for men and women. I know what you're getting at though with the bow shaped ribbon. A lot of military associations also handed out bow ribbon badges to men too, I think it's the same with this one. Of course I could be wrong...

Here's a rare one I just pulled from my collection. Thought I'd share it before I sell it and it's gone forever. It was presented on March 6, 1937. I'd consider on the extremely rare side with only a few given out to certain Japanese families and diplomats from the Turkish emabssy in Japan.

Here's one I just pulled out of the closet. Thought I'd share it as it is now on the auction block and once it's gone I'll never get a chance to show it off. It was for the unveiling of the memorial for the Turkish sailors who died on the shipwrecked Ertugrul of the coast of Japan. The medal is dated March 6, 1937. More info on the background on Wekipedia if you search for Ertugrul Frigate

Interesting. Who'e making them? I'd like to pick one up just for comparison against a real one. I recently had a remake one, but it was different than this style and obviously a recent make. If you can provide a maker name or shop it'd be appreciated.

I'm willing to bet the holder is original. Did you look at it under a black light?

The bar itself looks original, though repaired. Perhaps some of the ribbons are not original?

Here's another 1914-1915 war medal with a katakana "hi" mark. :speechless1:

Here's a Red Cross medal with an "S" on the back of the knob. I've never seen that before. Kind of exciting!

No doubt, it's an "S." Seen it on other medals, and I just found it on a Red Cross medal for the first time ever. Thanks for posting!

I'm interested in this NIPPON KUNSHO KENKYU-KAI newsletter you mentioned. Is it still being done? Thanks John

Thanks for posting. Inspect them closely, you may be surprised where you find them. Found a few on the ring before.

Here's a Red Cross stickpin rosette with a katakana "SU" on the back.

Richard, Unless the Osaka Mint had a Manchukuo branch? Then again, I've had lots of Manchurian bagdes (military and non-military related) that were obviously made in Japan... So are you going to post a photo for all to see? John

Here's an Emperor Showa enthronement medal with an "N" on top of the knob...

Here's a 8th class rising sun with an Osaka Mint "M" stamp on the back.

It commemorated the 1894-95 Sino-Japanese War. Not an official medal, but cool nonetheless.

Here's a 3rd class sacred treasure with a katakana "hi" stamp on the back.