Auspicious Box

[Ralph A]

What lies within?

[David Gregory]

Ralph,

I would be scared to open it. Just like any cunningly packed gift from Japan, once it has been opened it seems to be impossible to return it to the condition it arrived in.

Will you ever be able to make the bow of the ribbon look like that again?

Have you already taken a peek or do have your own X-ray machine?

David

[Ralph A]

That IS my bow, and thank you for the compliment.

I can show you how to so tie one, if you like.

Did you note the "manji" character on the gold sticker?

[Paul L Murphy]

My money is on sake cups......really really nice sake cups ......

Bye the way, you have some nice boxes around it, is the Russo Japanese War box to the left full or empty ?

[Ralph A]

You mean this old thing?

[Ralph A]

Why... its just more boxes!

[Ralph A]

As to the other box... it holds a Buddhist tea ceremony cup:

[Ralph A]

Now you want to see what's in the long wooden boxes, eh?

[Paul L Murphy]

Go on show the certificates, you know you want to

It should be a Golden Kite 7th Class and either a Rising Sun or Sacred Treasure 8th Class to a Senior Infantry Private for the Russo Japanese War. I love these sets when the soldiers went to the expense of buying these large storage boxes (they are private purchase items not government issue as some e-bay sellers try to claim). It shows that the original owner was proud of what he obtained and makes it that little bit more important to keep everything together in good condition.

Unfortunately in Japan you normally find these boxes split away from the certificates which is why I try to buy such compelte sets any time I find them.

Having said all that ....... show us the certs

[David Gregory]

Ralph,

Beautiful items! Please show us more and, in particular, those certificates if you have them.

David

[Ralph A]

Golden Kite 7th class award document, named to SHINOZUKA JISABURO-san.

The "kanji" reads: SANJUU NANA HACHI NEN SENEKI KUNKI KOUKI: "Russo-Japanese War Award Document"

[Ralph A]

This was rolled up with it:

[Ralph A]

Rising Sun 8th Class document to the same army infantry soldier. I plunked down an EK1 to help give a sense of scale to these documents. They are large.

[Ralph A]

The award cases themselves are intact - hard to find them without a piece missing; the wood is almost "balsa-like" and therefore very delicate. Also, a closeup of some of the document details.

[Ralph A]

The kikkumon is lovely...

[Ralph A]

The medals in question. Acquired separately from the documents.

Thanks for looking.

[Ralph A]

How to re-tie japanese sake cup boxs....

[Ralph A]

The looped end can be confusing...

[Ralph A]

[Laurence Strong]

Thanks for showing Ralph, love the detail in those doc's I have been eye-balling Saki cups but have been scared to stick my toe in the water

Edited December 24, 2006 by Laurence Strong

[Stogieman]

Well, if this isn't one of the neatest threads....

Merry Christmas Ralph!!

[Riley1965]

Ralph,

That's what I like about the Japanese, well most oriental awards and presentation cases. Pure Beauty!!!

Doc

[No one]

Dear Gentlemen,

 

The document see here:

 

Yours sincerely,

No one

Edited September 20 by No one

[No one]

Dear Gentlemen,

 

 

Yours sincerely,

No one

[No one]

Dear Gentlemen,

 

Mr Paul L Murphy wrote, I quote "It should be a Golden Kite 7th Class and either a Rising Sun or Sacred Treasure 8th Class..." Yes, indeed.

 

On laquered cases:

 

 勳記 : 勲...等 is either for an Order of the Rising Sun or an Order of the the Sacred Treasure but without a certificate you can't tell.

 

功記 : 功...級 is for an Order of the Golden Kite.

 

Yours sincerely,

No one

Edited October 3 by No one