Japanese Awards - China Incident Medal

[Gordon Williamson]

Awarded to those who served in the Japanese Army in China between 1937-45. Interesting use of the term "Incident" to describe a war lasting 8 years !!

Edited May 12, 2005 by Gordon Williamson

[Gordon Williamson]

Obverse shows not an eagle but "yata-no-karasu" a mythical giant crow, under the Cysanthemum and flanked by two Rising Sun flags. Once again the Kanji on the ribbon bar just say "War Medal"

[Gordon Williamson]

Reverse shows a representation of the mountains of northern China, the Kanji below reading " China Incident"

[Guest Rick Research]

Was this medal awarded until the end of WW2? So that a new soldier just there in 1944 would have earned one?

I never knew what the cut-off date was, but thought it was before 7 December 1941, with the supposed medal-to-be-issued for what then became a World War was going to be awarded after Final Victory?

[Gordon Williamson]

Rick,

According to my references the medal was still being bestowed right up to 1945.

[Paul L Murphy]

The cut off date for this award is actually April 1940. All of the award certificates I have handled for this, and I must have handled over 100 of these, were awarded in April 1940. There were no awards made after that date as far as I am aware.

I think the Japanese considered the "Incident" over at that stage, then it became a straightforward occupation !

[Gordon Williamson]

Thanks for the clarification on this Paul. Certainly makes more sense.

I was going by Petersen who states "given to soldiers departing for China until the summer of 1945"

[Paul L Murphy]

The exact date on all of these certificates is 29th April 1940. The lowest number certificate I have seen is 147,437 and the highest 3,201,849 and all were the same date. Also, the bravery and meritorious service awards handed out for the China Incident (ie. Golden Kite, Rising Sun and Sacred Treasure) were also given out on the same date of 29th April 1940. Hence, if you get a certificate with this date you can be pretty sure it is for this conflict.

Best regards,

Paul