Japanese Police Badge, weird case

[W.Unland]

Hello,

I KNOW this forum is for German police but in case there is any interest in other war time police relics I present this Japanese piece. The Japan military forum just didn't seem to fit..

The badge is titled "Highest Police Award Badge" on the outside of the case, or that is roughly how it translates. That's fine and all, but these badges were worn as unit commander badges during the war, and they still wear a similar badge today, albeit in cheapo rubberized material simulating metal. Now, since I know how these were actually used I have to assume that they were "awarded" when one was promoted to command, and were not an "award" per se, but the translation is hard to figure out in context.

The badge resembles a military commander's badge with the replacement of the military 5 pointed star with the civil emblem. These are rather rare to find, and this is the first I have ever seen with a case.

Now the case, totally weird. Here is a shot of the domed top with impressed title and the flat bottom and thumb catch. Pretty normal looking so far.

[W.Unland]

BUT, when we open it what happens............the badge is in the TOP, and the white lining the bottom????

This is NOT a mistake. The poor 2nd photo shows that the felted "top" is made to hold the badge and has a thread loop to keep it from falling out. The depth of the felted pad also fits the domed top, and the bottom is notched for the thumb catch. SO, this case was made back asswards on purpose. VERY STRANGE.

[W.Unland]

The badge itself is nice pre-war quality, and has a wide pin with loops on the reverse to allow sewing down to a tunic. The 8 pointed "star" was used as the national emblem from about 1870 on, and during the 2nd war was utilized by officer rank police and fire as well as government officials. The case names this example specifically to the police.

As i mentioned, my research suggests that these were worn by the commanders of stations to differentiate the boss from others of similar rank that might be assigned to the same unit. I am assuming that the AWARD was that of command, and not for some specific deed.

[W.Unland]

Lastly here is a photo of the badge in wear. It is the Asakusa police "koban" circa 1941. The captain in the center left is the boss and is wearing this badge on the lower right of his tunic.

Regards,
Bill Unland

[SiPo]

Very interesting Bill, thanks for showing. Personally, can't offer any idea as to why the case opens like that?

[Gerd W.]

That´s indeed a bit weird......... will not mention how many of these awards dropped on the ground after the owner opened the case

Many thanks for showing!!!

German Police organisation isn´t far away from the Japan one as some of you might expect.

I know at least 2 German Police officers who wore Japanese awards!
One of them maybe has still his monument in Tokyo.

The Berlin Schutzmannschaft members Polizei Hauptmann Hoehn and Wachtmeister Figaszewski worked there in 1885+

[JoeW]

And of course for most of WWII, SS-Staf Josef Meisinger was the Police Attache attached to the German legation in Tokyo. Would anyone know if he was favored with a Japanese award during his duty there. I am not aware if he ever returned to the Fatherland for a furlough or if a picture of him was taken during this time. I must check the files. He was found after the war by US CIC somewhat in hiding in the resort area lakes near Mt. Fuju.

[W.Unland]

Hello,

I was able to purchase an "upgrade" to the badge I opened this thread with. In this case it has a lapel badge, and the cardboard outer carton. It seems to be unused, mint condition.

I have to date this either war-time or IMMEDIATELY post war/occupation as the eight pointed governent "star" was not used by the police after Japan took over after the occupation.

The above badge will be on the e-stand if anyone is interested.

Regards,
Bill Unland

[SiPo]

Nice set Bill

[W.Unland]

Thanks, and thanks for calling it to my attention.

Interestingly it came from the same source as the first cased badge. I know better than to believe the "story", but both of these possibly belonged to the same man. That might explain why the newer one was unused. The guy would have received the "new" version with lapel pin, but threw it in the drawer and continued to use his original badge as it was sewn down to his uniform, and they are essentially identical.

This was the ONLY police "award" badge worn on the police tunic during the war years. They still have a rubberized cloth version, different design of course, worn above the right pocket by station commanders.

I have only seen a 1/2 dozen of these in 25 years of chasing Japanese police, and now I have 3 of them. In my humble opinion the Japanese police is MUCH harder to collect than German, but just not all that much interest.

Regards,
Bill Unland

[adlerfan53]

It is a aesthetically pleasing badge. Very nice.