| Various information about Japanese medals & orders page 3 |
| Imperial Japan Medals and Badges |
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| A few words about the Order of the Sacred Crown (Information from the Nakano Library online resource) |
The first 5 classes of the Order of the Sacred Crown (sometimes translated as the 'Precious Crown')
were instituted in 1888 and the 6th through the 8th classes were added in 1896. In 2003 the class
system was changed, so the following information refers to pre-2003 awards.
You can read about the differences in the designs of the different classes on the Sacred Crown page,
but here I'd like to show you a few examples of what kind of person would receive each class of
medal.
1st Class (Grand Cordon): Imperial princesses and foreign royal family members. A Japanese
Imperial Princess (daughters and sisters of the Emperor) would get this medal on her 15th birthday.
For other women who married into the Imperial family, they would get this medal upon marriage. This
includes Queen Consorts.
The first Grand Cordon awarded was on November 1, 1888 and given to Princess Tadako Arisugawa,
whose husband was the uncle of Emperor Meiji. Both the birth mothers of the Meiji and Taisho
Emperors also were awarded the Grand Cordon.
The most recent example is Princess Masako, who is married to the current (as of 2009) Crown
Prince. Since she was a commoner before her marriage, she got the medal the day of her wedding.
No Grand Cordon has been awarded since the 2003 revisions. (I am writing this in 2009.)
2nd Class: Queens Regnant received this on their 15th birthdays. Imperial princesses received this
on the day of their wedding ceremonies. In addition, female Diet members have been awarded this
class.
3rd Class: Examples of people who received this class: Diet members, national and private university
presidents (headmistresses), private university professors, family court judges, vocational school
presidents
4th Class: Examples of people who received this class: vocational school presidents, artists, poets,
actresses, singers, Ryoukyoku performers.
5th Class: Examples of people who received this class: vocational school presidents, performers,
hospital nurse staff heads
6th Class: Examples of people who received this class: vocational school presidents, hospital nurse
staff heads, regional government group members, designers
7th Class: Examples of people who received this class: primary school presidents, public health
nurses
8th Class: Examples of people who received this class: airline stewardesses who helped
passengers. One famous example is the Himeyuri students (Lily Corps), most of whom were given
their awards post-humously.
were instituted in 1888 and the 6th through the 8th classes were added in 1896. In 2003 the class
system was changed, so the following information refers to pre-2003 awards.
You can read about the differences in the designs of the different classes on the Sacred Crown page,
but here I'd like to show you a few examples of what kind of person would receive each class of
medal.
1st Class (Grand Cordon): Imperial princesses and foreign royal family members. A Japanese
Imperial Princess (daughters and sisters of the Emperor) would get this medal on her 15th birthday.
For other women who married into the Imperial family, they would get this medal upon marriage. This
includes Queen Consorts.
The first Grand Cordon awarded was on November 1, 1888 and given to Princess Tadako Arisugawa,
whose husband was the uncle of Emperor Meiji. Both the birth mothers of the Meiji and Taisho
Emperors also were awarded the Grand Cordon.
The most recent example is Princess Masako, who is married to the current (as of 2009) Crown
Prince. Since she was a commoner before her marriage, she got the medal the day of her wedding.
No Grand Cordon has been awarded since the 2003 revisions. (I am writing this in 2009.)
2nd Class: Queens Regnant received this on their 15th birthdays. Imperial princesses received this
on the day of their wedding ceremonies. In addition, female Diet members have been awarded this
class.
3rd Class: Examples of people who received this class: Diet members, national and private university
presidents (headmistresses), private university professors, family court judges, vocational school
presidents
4th Class: Examples of people who received this class: vocational school presidents, artists, poets,
actresses, singers, Ryoukyoku performers.
5th Class: Examples of people who received this class: vocational school presidents, performers,
hospital nurse staff heads
6th Class: Examples of people who received this class: vocational school presidents, hospital nurse
staff heads, regional government group members, designers
7th Class: Examples of people who received this class: primary school presidents, public health
nurses
8th Class: Examples of people who received this class: airline stewardesses who helped
passengers. One famous example is the Himeyuri students (Lily Corps), most of whom were given
their awards post-humously.
| A few words about the Order of the Rising Sun (Information from the Nakano Library online resource) |
The Order of the Rising Sun was instituted in 1875. In 2003 the class system was changed, so the
following information refers to pre-2003 awards.
A few examples of what kind of person could receive each class of medal. Note that these are only
examples and not limitations.
Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum: Emperors, Heads of Royal families of other
nations
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, Paulonia Leaves: Prime Ministers, National Office
Ministers, Imperial Family members
1st Class (Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun): Prime Ministers, National Office Ministers,
distinguished professors, heads of national committees
2nd Class: Examples of people who received this class: National Diet members, Ambassadors,
Imperial Household Agency heads, heads of government offices, Chief of Staff, Supreme Court
judges, public prosecutors, national and private university presidents, national and private university
professors, National Center heads, presidents of rail transport companies
3rd Class: Examples of people who received this class: National Diet members, Ambassadors,
Imperial Household Agency heads, government leaders, government court officers, national police
department heads, Supreme Court judges, family court judges, local court judges, national and
private university presidents, national and private university professors, national art museum
directors, prefecture governors, vice-governors, mayors
4th Class: Examples of people who received this class: Imperial Household Agency department
heads, regional law office heads, regional government department heads, Self-Defense Forces & Air
Forces department heads, tax office heads, family court judges, national university professors,
national hospital department heads, local Diet members, mayors, public high school principals
5th Class: Examples of people who received this class: military officers of the 2nd & 3rd Classes,
police prefecture & department heads, tax auditors, court secretaries, labor officials, local Diet
members, city mayors & vice-mayors, land surveyors, fire station chiefs, fire department heads, post
office department heads, public junior high school principals, public school principals
6th Class: Examples of people who received this class: military officers of the 3rd Class, police
department heads, head nurses, judges and people in the court system, national university
professors, fire station chiefs, post office heads of various departments, land reform officers, regional
community group members, care of children group members
7th Class: Examples of people who received this class: government workers, judges and people in
the court system, police officers, patrolmen and women, fire station heads, post office heads
8th Class: Examples of people who received this class: The above named and everyone else
following information refers to pre-2003 awards.
A few examples of what kind of person could receive each class of medal. Note that these are only
examples and not limitations.
Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum: Emperors, Heads of Royal families of other
nations
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, Paulonia Leaves: Prime Ministers, National Office
Ministers, Imperial Family members
1st Class (Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun): Prime Ministers, National Office Ministers,
distinguished professors, heads of national committees
2nd Class: Examples of people who received this class: National Diet members, Ambassadors,
Imperial Household Agency heads, heads of government offices, Chief of Staff, Supreme Court
judges, public prosecutors, national and private university presidents, national and private university
professors, National Center heads, presidents of rail transport companies
3rd Class: Examples of people who received this class: National Diet members, Ambassadors,
Imperial Household Agency heads, government leaders, government court officers, national police
department heads, Supreme Court judges, family court judges, local court judges, national and
private university presidents, national and private university professors, national art museum
directors, prefecture governors, vice-governors, mayors
4th Class: Examples of people who received this class: Imperial Household Agency department
heads, regional law office heads, regional government department heads, Self-Defense Forces & Air
Forces department heads, tax office heads, family court judges, national university professors,
national hospital department heads, local Diet members, mayors, public high school principals
5th Class: Examples of people who received this class: military officers of the 2nd & 3rd Classes,
police prefecture & department heads, tax auditors, court secretaries, labor officials, local Diet
members, city mayors & vice-mayors, land surveyors, fire station chiefs, fire department heads, post
office department heads, public junior high school principals, public school principals
6th Class: Examples of people who received this class: military officers of the 3rd Class, police
department heads, head nurses, judges and people in the court system, national university
professors, fire station chiefs, post office heads of various departments, land reform officers, regional
community group members, care of children group members
7th Class: Examples of people who received this class: government workers, judges and people in
the court system, police officers, patrolmen and women, fire station heads, post office heads
8th Class: Examples of people who received this class: The above named and everyone else
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Information on the Sacred Treasure coming soon...
Total number of Japanese and Manchukuo medals made each year from Showa 12 [1937] to Showa
20 [1945]. Also the number of workers in the Mint each year.
(Information found in Zouhei-kyoku Hyaku-nen Shi [100-Year History of the Japan Mint], pg 275)
20 [1945]. Also the number of workers in the Mint each year.
(Information found in Zouhei-kyoku Hyaku-nen Shi [100-Year History of the Japan Mint], pg 275)
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The numbers given here are fairly interesting in a limited way. We can see the output of medals during the war years, but we
cannot determine which medals were made in what quantities, nor can we see the various classes.
These numbers include the different orders, but they do not contain the commemorative and war medals. The workers
included a large number of students as well. The Japan Mint established a 6-month training program for workers under 17,
and they recruited young people frequently.
cannot determine which medals were made in what quantities, nor can we see the various classes.
These numbers include the different orders, but they do not contain the commemorative and war medals. The workers
included a large number of students as well. The Japan Mint established a 6-month training program for workers under 17,
and they recruited young people frequently.
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Below are the yearly numbers of Merit Medals awarded as of Heisei 5 [1993]. Note the paucity of awards
immediately post-war. The Dark Blue Ribbon medal is listed apart from the others because this was received
after donating a certain amount of money. The other Merit Medals are for notable service of different kinds.
In addition, it is worth mentioning that both the Yellow and the Purple Ribbon medals were established in
1955, so no number is listed in years prior to that.
Source: Eiten no Shiori
This is an official publication of the Medals and Awards Association. It is given to those who have received an
Order or Merit Medal. It was not offered for sale.
Although the colored chart looks a bit tacky, it's easier to identify the medals once you get deeper into the chart
and away from the headers.
immediately post-war. The Dark Blue Ribbon medal is listed apart from the others because this was received
after donating a certain amount of money. The other Merit Medals are for notable service of different kinds.
In addition, it is worth mentioning that both the Yellow and the Purple Ribbon medals were established in
1955, so no number is listed in years prior to that.
Source: Eiten no Shiori
This is an official publication of the Medals and Awards Association. It is given to those who have received an
Order or Merit Medal. It was not offered for sale.
Although the colored chart looks a bit tacky, it's easier to identify the medals once you get deeper into the chart
and away from the headers.
Merit Medal Yearly Number of Awards
