Japanese badges

[GHP]

2.

Start a new thread so comments do not get mixed.


--Guy

[med2015]

JapanX, I think you're correct -- 前 "mae" meaning "in front of;" in this case, "in front of Nanko " [probably an older name of the current train station there. Today there is the "Nanko-mae Building" and across the railroad tracks is a Shinto Shrine called 湊川神社（楠公さん）Minatogawa Shrine (Nanko san).

神戸楠公前
Kobe Nanko Mae


平山商会
Hirayama Shoukai
Hirayama Co.

There is still a badge-making company in Kobe of the same name. It is only a city block from the former address.]

電話元町 1551番
Denwa Motomachi 1551 ban
Phone No. Motomachi 1551


--Guy

Thank you, Guy!

[imperialjapan]

I may be mistaken, but I thought that most references to Nankou (楠公) were to Kusunoki Masashige. Perhaps there was a statue of him, and the badge shop was located in front.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kusunoki_Masashige

Some medals related to Kusunoki on my site (shameless plug…)
http://imperialjapanmedalsandbadges.com/kusunoki.html

[GHP]

I may be mistaken, but I thought that most references to Nankou (楠公) were to Kusunoki Masashige. Perhaps there was a statue of him, and the badge shop was located in front.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kusunoki_Masashige

Some medals related to Kusunoki on my site (shameless plug…)
http://imperialjapanmedalsandbadges.com/kusunoki.html

Hi Rich (of the shameless plug). I don't doubt you're right. Perhaps that shrine was dedicated to Kusunoki Masahige. [a bit of searching....] Aha! It was:

"Minatogawa Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Chūō-ku, Kobe, Japan, roughly on the site of the Battle of Minatogawa. The enshrined kami is the spirit of Masashige Kusunoki, a military commander. It is one of the Fifteen Shrines of the Kenmu Restoration."
====
The Wiki stub states:
地元では親しみを込めて「楠公（なんこう）さん」と呼ばれている
Affectionately known as Nankou-san to the locals.

So perhaps the shop was, as you suggest, in front of the shrine.

According to Google Maps, Kobe Nankou Mae Bldg is in front of the shrine, on the other side of the rail tracks.




And Puh-Leeze! Do plug your site more often -- it is loaded with good photos and information.

--Guy