Japan "Narasino Medal": Token for Russian Prisoners of Russo-Japanese War

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It is believed that about 80 000 Russians were captured in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. The biggest POW camps were located at Osaka (25 000 POWs) and Narasino (15 000 POWs).

Russians were well treated, able to write and receive mail, able to worship, had entertainment facilities, and were paid a work allowance. Officer and other ranks barracks were also maintained. Some of them even got a specially created silver medal (I think more correct name for this award will be a “token”). It was awarded to heads of barracks and prisoners that demonstrated “good conduct”.

For obvious reasons this medal is pretty rare.

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Here how it looks like.

Obverse

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Obverse inscription reads

精勤 – diligence

where

精 – energy/force
勤 – work.

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Reverse

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Reverse inscription reads

習志野 - Narasino (in japanese)

Нарасино – Narasino (in russian)

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Another example

Obverse

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Reverse

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Now let’s take a look at these unique photos that were made by japanese medical officer who visited Narasino camp.

Camp gates

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A couple of additional photos (although not from Narasino camp)

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[Gensui]

Nick,

Great to see some photos of "my" Narashino camp during/after the russo-japanese war.

Once back home, I may show some photos of the POW camp Narashino, how it looked like 10 years later

BTW, do you have any (written) sources about the "daily Russian life" in the POW camp Narashino? E.g. how they were treated, how long they stayed, etc.

BR,

Chris

Edited April 23, 2013 by Gensui