kaigunair

NIce one. I wonder if all graduating classes had this issued or available for purchase? Or were they only given to top students? I've seen a few different variations of these. I also think I've seen them advertised in private badge making shop catalogues. I know top students sometimes received flight watches from the school or from their family, so perhaps these were also given along with the timepieces? Context of these items is everything!

Very comprehensive showing of these types of badges. Thanks for putting in the time to photo and post these. Would be great if there were more info on the association itself. I wonder what they did or what they stood for? Were they similar to the association that used the 3-legged crow badges or were they a Veteran's club? Seems like there were many of these types of clubs/associations in japan...possibly a cultural phenomenon related thing in Japan. Either way, nice to see variations of this badge and hopefully it'll lead to more research!

OOOhhh, that's a nice watch fob. Have you ever come across one for a pilot? Thanks for sharing those pics!!!!!!

You have to use the "more reply options".

Yup, I had posted the badge to get confirmation of the translation, and Nick Komiya helped out big time! Back then, this forum was much more sleepy. Been looking for that other silver technical skills badge but only saw it on yahoo jpn once. Don't know why these appeal to me...

"That's not a technical skills badge, THIS is a technical skills badge!": Can't believe I almost forgot about this badge I picked up from Rich a while back! Also shows how much I've been focusing my attention elsewhere. Maybe it was a subconscious reason why I was drawn to the ebay badge, but when looking at this one, no comparison!

That number is definately off. I believe the number of 89 might only refer to pilots who were awarded the bukosho, not the total. Wouldn't be the first time wiki info was off! Btw, I did have 2 of those Mindanao bukosho certificates which were handwritten and issued in the field. They were taken from a prisoner in a POW camp, and were found in a leather bag along with pencils, hanko stamps, toothbrush, etc. additional paperwork included Kia and Mia listings of the supply unit. This was all very sad stuff, as you could see exactly the attrition rate of that unit's experience. As the certificates were hand written, they definitely led precedence to the idea that the bukosho was a field award.

Hi Rich, did not mean that, and will be more careful with my wording. The forum has certainly got more lively, much more so than when I first visited it a few years back. Many of the posts here have so much more info than the ones back then, lots more info being exchanged which bodes well for future collectors. I still am trying to catch up with all the older posts. An example of this is the more recent buko-sho discussion which was really helpful and came to a pretty convincing conclusion, much different than the past ones I've had on this and other forums. Its very encouraging. I think I do recall seeing the naval skill medal listed a while ago, maybe last year or earlier? It was definitely early last year at the least. I do think it is weird that it sold all of a sudden. But I think its a positive sign for jpn medal collectors that this area of collecting is getting "hotter", at least by the way ebay prices seem to be going up...

Thanks JapanX. Appreciate the opinion. The bukosho is actually back with one of its former owners (who has several examples), so it all worked out. Was just a question that has been nagging at me for a while, and am relieved that a more definitive answer has been reached. So now if I run across another bukosho with the rough stamping, I'll jump on it!

nah Jareth, can't be expanding the collection to include these pins, especially since I just got into a different area of awards . from my understanding, this type of pin back is usually indicative of a private shop creation, vs an "official" issued badge. I'm getting that from era pics of badge/medal shop advertisements. I did like the design, but price wasn't right for me... still haven't taken the leap into the metal helmets...yet!

I'm alittle more dissapointed that no one mentioned it was listed in peterson. At least the info perhaps helped someone on this board...

well now, looks like someone picked it up for $150! Turns out it was listed in the Peterson book too right after the proficiency badges section...

Thanks for all the info. The bukosho in question was the one you posted pics of in post 20 and 21, the slack-baked one. I originally posted about this particular medal in http://gmic.co.uk/in...ge__hl__bukosho. I'm not sure if the comparison is to show that the bukosho pictured in 20/21 is of lesser quality, or if in the jpn badge collecting community this slack-baked back version is a verified authentic version of the bukosho. The concern was that the level of quality (the lack thereof) indicated that this could be a reproduction. I am also alittle confused about the initial posting. Are the pics of the example in posts 6 - 9 supposed to be of another example of a known reproduction bukosho, or is this supposed to be an original that the bolo tie post-war reproduction is being compared against? If the example in post 6-9 is a known reproduction, it is very much like the bukosho I had and I would be convinced once and for all that the slack-baked example is a post war reproduction.

Neat post. An advanced medal collector whom I really respect and has provided invaluable source info on various awards and medals once commented to me that he felt the bukosho example I owned could be fake because of a lack of quality in the die. It really did concern me once he pointed it out. Any thoughts? One the flip side, I've been lucky enough to know someone who had several examples of this medal in different classes, and it was his opinon that the dies were being used and worn down...die marks in the back were one way he felt he could identify period buko-sho badges. I guess the question is, if the buko-chosho was a military award, is they any info on where it was made? Similarly, if it was made by the normal factory that made other awards, should the quality of the buko-sho badges, even the 2nd class, be better?

ah yes, a naval gun would make more sense! :speechless:would also clear up a different question I had when I was looking at proficiency badges and what they were issued for...thanks!

Been awhile, but really nice to see so many new and interesting topics on this board. Thought I'd add to the discussion. Came across this listing which is interesting, but way to expensive for someone like me whose's not primarily into pins and badges: http://www.ebay.com/...=item20c3a6d631 If I've translated it correctly the front kanji,技, indicates this is a badge for "skill". Rear kanjis read 横須賀 (yokosuka) 兵廠 (arsenal). The symbolism packed into this little badge is amazing. From the top, there's the naval anchor which also becomes the outline of the front of a ship. The straight line/curls is symbolic of signal corp, there's the sakura and propeller (air), torpedo, telescope, axe and hammer (carpentry), wrenches, artillery shell, and the waves/sea spray.

Just in case anyone is interested, here's an example of a handwritten certificate for a bukosho award. It was issued for actions during the battle of mindanao in the philippines. Unlike most of the ones I've read about, this wasn't issued to an aviator. Seems like a great example of a field award. Issued only 15 days before the war ended. I've been told there was a printed version, so any pics of that would be much appreciated.

great minds think alike. :cheers:

Thank you Paul. The butterflies are what initially drew my attention, but now I know they are silk moths! Any idea about the age? Given how elegant this medal is, I'd love to see what a 1st class badge looked liked!

I've been wondering for a while what this medal was for. I bought it only because it just looked really nice. In hand, the quality appears very high. I'm gussing from construction it is a private purchase medal. Would appreciate any info on it.

I'm located in the SF bay area (peninsula) also, and its mostly mold and mildew I'm usually combatting. I've heard of furniture restoration places using the walk-in fridges to remove wood beetles, so a ziplock/freezer might work for at least 3-4 days. I guess I'd be more concerned about the wood expanding after it being taken out or the affect of the low temp on the glue. Depriving them of oxygen may work, but you'd probably want to include an insecticide. http://www.heritage.xtd.pl/pdf/full_valentin.pdf http://www.prespest.com/beetles.htm Alternatively, maybe you can put them all into a large, sealable plastic bag, and have the local terminex guy provide some of the fumigation gas that they use for tenting homes (or put them in a friend's house that's being fumigated?). I would think those airtight clothes storage bags (where one uses a vacuum to compress it) might do, as they come in large sizes...

Thanks Dieter3. I've actually seen that website. I've been trying to find a clearer picture of that copy, but no one seems to have one. I've seen what a current reproduction looks like: it this very very shiny finish, and it is marked on the underside of the catch with big kanji indicating it is a reproduction. If any one had any copies or reproductions for sale, I'd love to buy it for reference. I'm guessing from your post that this doesn't appear to fall either into the Medal or Order category. However, I know that certificates were issued to soldiers who received the buko chosho. Both the pre-printed type, as well as full hand written version. In the OMSA, it is listed in the "badges" section, but is labeled as the Distinguished Military Service Medal. I'm alittle confused as this is a new area to me, but would appreciate it if someone could explain what make one a medal vs a badge vs an order. Thanks in advance.

This is my first post here, and as jpn awards and badges are not my primary collecting area, please be kind . I've been thorougly enjoying this forum for the past few months, getting to see a Marshall's Badge and a Formosa Expedition medal, as well as bunch of high orders I've never known about. Though not in the same league, this is was my first japanese badge/medal which I figured would be "worthy" to post up. I am very grateful to have been able to pick it up. This is the B-class bukosho award. I've been scouring the internet for info, but it seems it few and far between. I've also gotten some slack on another forum for referring to this as a japanese medal of honor, but I've heard that attached to this medal also. Per Henry Sakaida's research, the records for the bukosho were destroyed at the end of the war, but he was able to confirm that many pilots had received this. As I'm primarily a collector of japanese flight gear, this was my interest in this particular medal/award. I'm not even sure if I should be calling this a medal or an award or a badge. Construction-wise, to my untrained eye, it looks closer to naval proficiency badges than army ones based on the rear catch, although it was primarily awarded to army personnel. Anyone know who produced this badge (was it a private manufacturer or the gov't)? The marshall badge's catch is closer, but definately in a totally different class. My example does react to a magnet, and when I handle it, I do get a very distinct metal smell on my hands. I've read that the center part should be silver colored with the kanji in gold. I'm thinking silver-coated area in mine has tarnished with age, hence it blends in with the kanji. Based on the quality of the strike, mine is also probably a later strike. The rear also has slight traces of certain vertical lines, which seems to be shared by many of the known bukosho examples. I don't have an original box for mine. Well, looking forward to your comments. Anyone know of anything written in japan about it?