Precedence of wear for Japanese Orders/Medals

[mravery]

Hello All,

Question for the group……. Did the Japanese have the same order of precedence as most of the other European countries. I.e. Orders first… then Campaign Medals, then Commemorative medals, then foreign awards ??

If an officer had the following.. would this be the proper order ?

By Date ?

1) 1904-05 War Medal (1906)
2) Taisho Enthronement Commemorative Medal (1915)
3) 1914-1920 War Medal (1920)
4) WW1 Victory Medal (1920)
5) Red Cross Medal

By Campaign then Commemorative ?

1) 1904-05 War Medal (1906)
2) 1914-1920 War Medal (1920)
3) Taisho Enthronement Commemorative Medal (1915)
4) WW1 Victory Medal (1920)
5) Red Cross Medal

Cheers
Mark

[emaroli]

I believe they were worn by date. ~Ed

[mravery]

Hey Ed,

Thanks.. I was thinking that they were...but was not certain and I could find no reference stating it......

Now another question regarding the RS and the Sac. Treasure....

Did you always have to be awarded the Sac. Treasure first before you could get the Rising Sun and did the RS always follow at a grade lower....

I.e.

Would it be possible for an officer (General) to have the Rising Sun 1st class and only the Sac. Treasure 2nd class... OR...... Did he have to be awarded the Sac. Treasure 1st BEFORE he could get the Rising Sun 1st ?

Cheers
Mark

[W.Unland]

Hello,

Orders were worn first, then war medals by date, then commemoratives by date, foreign and finally "civilian " awards like red cross. They followed typical European military traditions when they formulated their military during the Meiji period as they had no other model.

Presently, Rising sun and Sacred treasure are totally independant, with no requirement of receiving one before the other. The "Grade" of the order follows the paygrade of the recipient at time of reception. Lower ranks lower grades. They do NOT reflect greater deeds or heroism.

I think it possible for a general to have different grades if they were received at different times in his career, BUT a multiple award would revert to the higher grade so you don't see guys wearing two or three Sacred Treasures or Golden Kites, just the highest grade received. That's why generals always seem to have all 1st and 2nd class awards even though he recived a 5th or 4th when he was younger.

Regards,
William Unland

[mravery]

Hello,

Orders were worn first, then war medals by date, then commemoratives by date, foreign and finally "civilian " awards like red cross. They followed typical European military traditions when they formulated their military during the Meiji period as they had no other model.

Presently, Rising sun and Sacred treasure are totally independant, with no requirement of receiving one before the other. The "Grade" of the order follows the paygrade of the recipient at time of reception. Lower ranks lower grades. They do NOT reflect greater deeds or heroism.

I think it possible for a general to have different grades if they were received at different times in his career, BUT a multiple award would revert to the higher grade so you don't see guys wearing two or three Sacred Treasures or Golden Kites, just the highest grade received. That's why generals always seem to have all 1st and 2nd class awards even though he recived a 5th or 4th when he was younger.

Regards,
William Unland

Hey Bill,

That brings up another interesting thought...... Say a Colonel was awarded the RS 3rd class.... and was then promoted to General... would he automatically receive the 2nd class of the RS upon his promotion or would he need to wait until it was awarded to him again for an additional merit before he would get the 2nd class ?

Cheers
Mark

[W.Unland]

Dear Mark,

You know, I think the orders were only upgraded with additional award, but if the war time was anything like now it didn't take much to get these things, except maybe the Kite. They are awarded for holding a position, for time in service, for personal service to the government, just about anything. I imagine anyone making it to general would be on good terms with the government so would be pretty much guaranteed the awards. I know the general's uniform I have has loops for three 1st or 2nd class stars, and I've never heard of the guy. Hardly famous, so I think his awards went along with the position. Like German generals receiving the RK for being in combat command, I think the Kite was automatic for anyone commanding a combat unit.....as long as they didn't totally loose all the time (smile).

I have NEVER found any printed rules or regs. They pretend the 2nd war didn't happen here and there is little interest in military regulations and uniforms I'm afraid.

Regards,
Bill Unland

[emaroli]

Here are some photo's;

Admiral Kusaka, he was Admirals Nagumo's chief of staff.

Sacred Treasure 2nd
Golden Kite 3rd
Rising Sun 3rd

[emaroli]

General Ushijima, commander of Okinawa.

Sacred Treasure 2nd
Rising Sun 3rd
Auspicious Cloud 3rd
Golden Kite 5th/4th?

[rexmundi]

What was the order of the foreign awards? Highest to lowest or on first letter of the country in french ? ( Like we Dutch do )

[emaroli]

The Sacred Treasure was more of a long service award than the Rising Sun and the 2nd class S.T. may have been awarded on promotion to general/admiral while the Rising Sun 2nd still had to be earned? There is so little info out there. ~Ed

[emaroli]

Note the commemorative medals between the war medals. ~ED

[emaroli]

Note the commemorative medals between war medals. ~ED

[Jareth]

Is that about 70 pounds of medals?

[mravery]

Dear Mark,

You know, I think the orders were only upgraded with additional award, but if the war time was anything like now it didn't take much to get these things, except maybe the Kite. They are awarded for holding a position, for time in service, for personal service to the government, just about anything. I imagine anyone making it to general would be on good terms with the government so would be pretty much guaranteed the awards. I know the general's uniform I have has loops for three 1st or 2nd class stars, and I've never heard of the guy. Hardly famous, so I think his awards went along with the position. Like German generals receiving the RK for being in combat command, I think the Kite was automatic for anyone commanding a combat unit.....as long as they didn't totally loose all the time (smile).

I have NEVER found any printed rules or regs. They pretend the 2nd war didn't happen here and there is little interest in military regulations and uniforms I'm afraid.

Regards,
Bill Unland

Hey Bill,

It's a shame that there are no AKO's or regulations around that would assist with this research. All I have ever had to go on was period photographs (I'll post a few soon)..... It seems that the ST was always awrded first.. then the RS (except for a few exceptions that I have pictures of).

As far as the Kite goes.... if a young officer was awarded the 5th class... then never saw actual combat again.. and retired as a General, it would be possible then that the General would only have the 5th class (I'm just guessing here) ??

Cheers
Mark

[mravery]

Ed,

Thanks for the pics..... here are a few of mine (most found on the interenet) but unfortunatly most not ID'd....
1st one.... early 1900's pictures.... appears to be RS 3rd class and ST 1st class.