Identification help needed please.

[Guardian 5]

Hello Everyone - I usually hang out at the Bundesrepublik Deutschland Forum, but I do have a small collection of Japanese Militaria. I acquired the items, mainly campaign medals and sake cups, while stationed at Yokota Airbase in Tokyo during the late 1990s.

I've been spending part of this Christmas vacation cataloging my collection and have come across a few items that I can't readily identify. Any assistance this forum could provide in identifying these items will be very much appreciated. I've already greatly benefited from searching through archived threads.

This first item I believe to be the membership pin of a women's patriotic association. Could anyone tell me for sure?

Thanks again for the help and Merry Christmas.

All the best - TJ

[Guardian 5]

Here is a rear view.

[Guardian 5]

Next up is the balsa wood box that the above pin came in. As the Kanji on the badge doesn't seem to match that on the box, I'm doubtful that the award came in this box originally.

Does anyone know for sure?

Thanks - TJ

[Guardian 5]

The pin below has been variously identified as an "Imperial Time-Expired Soldier’s Member Badge" or "Showa Era Japanese Veteran’s League Badge".

Is this accurate? What does the frill around the pin signify? I have two of these if anyone's looking for one.

Thanks - TJ

[Guardian 5]

This final badge has been identified as an Imperial Army Expert Marksmanship Badge. Is this true?

Unfortunately, the pin on this example is missing. It is very light in weight.

Can anyone supply information on version or type, etc.?

Thanks so much for the help.

TJ

[Guardian 5]

Here's a rear view of the marksmanship badge.

It's been great fun "moonlighting" on the Japanese Forum.

Thanks for taking a look.

Merry Christmas - TJ

[Nick Komiya]

The first badge says Imperial Soldier Support Association Members' Medal, but the case is for a prize from Yomiuri Newspaper and do not belong together as you say. I support the conclusions of the others on the remaining badges.

[Guardian 5]

Nick - Much obliged.

Thanks - TJ

[Guardian 5]

Team - Can anyone provide feedback on the below query?

Thanks - TJ

[Nick Komiya]

I don't know who coined the silly translation of "time-expired soldiers" as that's nowhere close to the original Japanese. Anyway, if I may be more faithful to the original meaning, both the gold and silver badges are membership badges for the Imperial Hometown Veterans' Association. The silver one being for normal members who paid a monthly due of 0.5 Yen, whereas the gold badge was for a Special Member, who contributed a minimum lump sum of 5 Yen.

[Jareth]

Nick, do you know the significances of the variations with color enamel such as red, green & blue? Are they indicators as to the monitary amounts paid?

[Nick Komiya]

Nick, do you know the significances of the variations with color enamel such as red, green & blue? Are they indicators as to the monitary amounts paid?

The colored badges were for officers of the association, Group Leaders, Advisors, etc.

[Guardian 5]

I don't know who coined the silly translation of "time-expired soldiers" as that's nowhere close to the original Japanese. Anyway, if I may be more faithful to the original meaning, both the gold and silver badges are membership badges for the Imperial Hometown Veterans' Association. The silver one being for normal members who paid a monthly due of 0.5 Yen, whereas the gold badge was for a Special Member, who contributed a minimum lump sum of 5 Yen.

Nick - Thanks again.

TJ

[Guardian 5]

Team - The below slide is offered to eliminate misinformation on the Imperial Military Reserve Association and the organization's membership badges.

In addition to the information supplied by Nick Komiya, I found additional reference material on "Teri's Nambu World" website at http://www.members.shaw.ca/tju/jhg.htm. The Collector's Guild website had a good description of the Special Membership Badge.

Finally, the below abstract summarizes a very detailed article on this organization written by college professor R.J. Smethurst back in 1971. The abstract is found on the website of the Journal for Asian Studies at http://www.jstor.org/pss/2052989

Imperial Military Reserve Association

In 1910, a group or army officers led by Tanaka Giichi founded the Imperial Military Reserve Association in order to integrate Japanese society around military values. The founders, mostly proteges of Yamagata Aritomo, the chief Meiji period spokesman for unity to increase national wealth and power, established the organization in 1910 because the already existing unity was under attack. Labor organizations and the influx of morally degenerate and subversive Western ideas caused Tanaka to fear army-civilian alienation and national divisiveness. Thus, to achieve integration, the reserve association disseminated the "soldier's ethos," military ideals, such as obedience, frugality, bravery, cooperation, social stratification, anti-individualism, and diligence, all unified by a belief in a divine emperor, established branches in every community, 14,000 in all, and carried out activities which reinforced both the values and local social structure. The three million volunteer members, half of whom had no military experience, achieved their leaders' goals by performing public services and patriotic activities. They demonstrated to local residents the ethos in action and benefitted the community as well. By the 1930's, both the organization and the members had become the backbone of rural Japan. . .

Hopefully, forum members will find these resources useful.

All the best - TJ

[mcmike]

Thomas and Nick: thanks for clarification on these items, as they have been presented under a variety of definitions even from Japanese sources.