Japanese Awards- 1894-95 War Medal

[Gordon Williamson]

For the war against China in 1894 in which Japan gained sovereignty over Korea and Formosa.

[Gordon Williamson]

Obverse shows crossed Army and Naval flags

[Gordon Williamson]

Reverse. The Kanji in the centre read "War Medal" and the inscription arounmd reads "Meiji 27-8 years". Reputedly cast from the bronze of captured Chinese cannon barrels

[Rick Research]

Here is a ribbon bar with the Orders of the Rising Sun, Sacred Treasure, and Golden Kite-- ending with the 1894-95 War Medal, and all rather faded from age.

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I don't know if this "British" style of ribbon bar dates from back then, or this is the individual top row from a WW1-era bar, since the only Japanese ribbon bars I've ever seen before were the WW2 flat tab back variety.