Japan NCO meritorious service badge (a.k.a. NCO attendance's badge)

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Attractive and pretty rare ...

It's time to have a little chat about this one

Peterson on p.109 gives us the name of this badge (not very exact) “Regular Attendants Badge NCO” + photo of the badge (fig.194).

That’s it.

Not much

When, to whom and for what

Well now we know that this badge was established on March 2, 1904.

Original name of this badge is 下士勤功章

下 - under

士 - officer

勤 - hard working/attendance

功 - service/merit/meritorious service

章 - badge

Or, as we call it in Moscow (by using Google translator ), Kashi Tsutomu Isao Fumi.

This badge was awarded to NCOs for exemplary performance. Candidates for this badge were selected by each unit (candidate should had at least 6 years of exemplary service). But only very few got this badge. Crème de la crème of NCO

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Like this one

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Back of the photo inscribed

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Back of the cover

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Or this one

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There are two types of badges (by pin type).

Flat pin badges

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Cherry blossom in the centre of the badge should be silvered

but sometime it had goldish patina

in the begining of the process

at the end

When all silver is lost cherry blossom has this look

Edited September 7, 2013 by JapanX

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There are two variations of flat pin (by fastening)

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Some badges bear makers mark

Mark reads "Wada Hiko, Osaka"

Edited September 7, 2013 by JapanX

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Others don`t

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There are several types of boxes for this badge

Balsa box

Edited September 7, 2013 by JapanX

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Cardboard box

Edited September 7, 2013 by JapanX

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Cardboard box (without inscription)

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One of my badges with flat pin

Edited September 7, 2013 by JapanX

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Pointed pin badges

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Catching hook was restored by original owner.

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