Shattering a Myth, the China Incident Commemorative Medal

[Nick Komiya]

The China Incident War Medal is the most common Japanese war medal on the market today, but its sister, the China Incident Commemorative Medal intended for acknowledging the contributions of those who did not qualify for the war medal is extremely rare and totally misunderstood, thanks to the book written by James W. Peterson.
The medal that originally had the name “China Incident Home Front Service Commemorative Medal” has won notoriety as the medal for Chinese Collaborators! This ridiculous morphing of a medal of a most banal nature into a medal sought for its cloak and dagger image was all because of a single sentence in Petersen’s book. He said of the medal, ”As this medal is practically unknown in Japan, and almost anyone could be eligible for the war medals, it seems probably that this was intended as a reward for Chinese collaborators”. This unscholarly speculation unfortunately caught on and even Japanese collectors came to believe this fantasy. As a matter of fact, I haven’t seen a single introduction to this medal that correctly describes its purpose, so it is time to set the record straight.

[Nick Komiya]

The truth is that this medal was originally to be issued in the millions to those who made contributions on the home front such as financial institutions selling war bonds, to youth organizations, religious organizations, railroad personnel, civil defense, the press, government officials, business men etc, whose collaboration was necessary to achieve total mobilization of Japanese society in the war effort. It was based on the recognition that modern wars could only be won by engaging the support of the entire socio-economic infrastructure. The original cabinet discussion papers dated July 6th, 1942 called it the “China Incident Home Front Service Commemorative Medal”, but by the time it finally got released as an edict on 26th September, the name had been shortened to “China Incident Commemorative Medal”. Despite the curtailed name, the minutes of the morning conference of September 16th resided by the Emperor himself clearly explains the purpose as a “home front medal”, though its name had already been shortened.
The idea to create this medal simply came from the realization that there were many home front activities behind the incident that went unacknowledged by the war medal established in 1939, and as the war medal would be awarded to even trivial involvement in the military action, not acknowledging weightier home front efforts seemed increasingly inappropriate. However, expanding the award criteria of the war medal to include home front activities seemed equally insulting to those who won it on the front line. In other words, like the Germans added the war service cross to cover the contributions missed by the iron Cross, Japan belatedly decided to address those they had been neglecting for the past 3 years.
The instigators were against simply calling it the China Incident Commemorative Medal and award it generally to those who contributed, as that would mean the redundancy of awarding soldiers twice, the war medal and the commemorative. They wanted to limit the award to noncombatants by stressing the Home Front. Neither would it work to award it automatically to all home front efforts that contributed to achieving the goals of the incident, as military personnel who also engaged in home front activities would have received both medals, while his comrades spending all that time in the front lines would only qualify for the war medal, as if they had done less.
Petersen cites the rarity of this medal in Japan, as a reason to assume that it was mainly given to foreigners, but he was obviously looking in the wrong places, as Japan was the main subject for the medal. However, in instituting the medal there was keen awareness of contributions made by those in other territories such as Korea, Taiwan and Sakhalin, of which Korea was to receive the most number of medals outside Japan followed by Taiwan.
Why is it so rare then? That is because by 1942 when this medal was established, turn of events such as the Battle of Midway had made the China Incident somewhat irrelevant to what Japan was facing at that time. The purpose of national mobilization had shifted from the China Incident and had escalated to a Greater East Asia War. It was not the time to sit on laurels and gloat over past glories when things were now going downhill for Japan. So in 1944, when they instituted the Greater East Asia War medal, the edict for both China Incident Medals were amended at the same time and for the China Incident Commemorative Medal this amendment excluded awards to the following two groups.
1. Those who had been awarded the China Incident War Medal
2. Those who made significant contributions to the China Incident since April 29th 1940 and who qualify for the Greater East Asia War Medal.

The Greater East Asia War Medal had expanded its award threshold in a way that could award home front activities that took place from where the China Incident Commemorative Medal left off. As a result, the long list of candidates nominated for the commemorative medal at its inception was drastically reduced and the remainder who were to receive the Greater East Asia War medal were made to wait in vain, as Japan had lost the war before it could be issued.

[Jareth]

Great post Nick. Very well written & nice presentation !

[Paul G]

Thank you for your expertise and willingness to share with others Nick

PG-

[GeorgeP]

Very interesting, thanks!



Tom

[JapanX]

... as Japan was the main subject for the medal. However, in instituting the medal there was keen awareness of contributions made by those in .... Korea, Taiwan and Sakhalin, of which Korea was to receive the most number of medals outside Japan followed by Taiwan.
Why is it so rare then? That is because by 1942 when this medal was established, turn of events such as the Battle of Midway had made the China Incident somewhat irrelevant to what Japan was facing at that time.

Nice one Nick!
Very interesting.
Could you please post the original design or/and regulation for this medal?
I wonder where Peterson get his idea about Chinese collaborators exclusive...
I think that the comparative rarity of this medal has always been a little overestimated ... Although it is quite rare ... No doubt about.

P.S. Is this original Great East Asia?
If so, could you please post a good pictures?
By the way, what do you think about the photo of this medal in Petersen book. Topsy-turvy bar inscription...

[Nick Komiya]

Nick, I'll come back to your questions later. Yes, the Greater East Asia War Medal is an original except for the ribbon. I've blown my whole day again writing this, and I don't want to continue writing again tomorrow, so let me finish my contribution with another short piece. I will take you back to the origins of the campaign medals, the 1874 medal and the Sino-Japanese War medal. Some interesting items including the identity of an American officer who was awarded the 1874 War Medal stay tuned! But here, the Greater East Asia with the repro ribbon removed.

[JapanX]

Yep, this is original...
This is what I call RARE
Thanks for this treat Nick

[Rommel1933]

Nick,

very interesting indeed.. a great medal explanation! I never know of the China Incident Commemorative Medal!!!

Thank you, Scott

[JapanX]

By the way...

November 9th, 1937

Japanese troops take control of Shanghai.

Nice timing Nick ...

[Tim B.]

Thanks for posting Nick!

Nice to see some movement in the Japanese section here on medals; long overdue!

Tim

[blinky]

Thank God the Greater East Asia War Medal is so rare.....

I've always really liked the China Incident Commemorative Medal (thank you Nick for an expanded explaination )
The obverse is such a simple but wonderful design....dare I say subtley beautiful? The understatement of the design is very Japanese. Knowing more about it however makes me want it even more.
Thanks for posting Nick!

eric

[Stu W]

Hi Eric,

Barry Turk has two on his site if you are wanting to buy one at this time. That's most unusual as they are very difficult to find anywhere now it seems.

Regards,
Stu

[Der Texaner]

Extremely informative Nick, thank you very much.

Best wishes,
Joel

[RussellM]

Great presentation Nick - always a real treat when you share your knowledge with us. Thanks for taking the time to write it.

Regards

Russ