Medals of Honor (Japan)

Summary

Medals of Honor (褒章, hōshō) are medals awarded by the Emperor of Japan. They are awarded to individuals who have done meritorious deeds and also to those who have achieved excellence in their field of work.[1] The Medals of Honor were established on December 7, 1881, and were first awarded the following year. Several expansions and amendments have been made since then. The medal design for all six types is the same, bearing the stylized characters 褒章 on a gilt central disc surrounded by a silver ring of cherry blossoms on the obverse; only the colors of the ribbon differ.

If for some reason an individual were to receive a second medal of the same ribbon colour, then a second medal is not issued but rather a new bar is added to their current medal. The Medals of Honor are awarded twice each year, on April 29 (the birthday of the Shōwa Emperor) and November 3 (the birthday of the Meiji Emperor).

Types edit

 
Hitoshi Narita stands at near right, wearing the Japanese Medal of Honor with purple ribbon. Dr. Narita stands with H.R.H. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (middle) and with the President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Alec Broers, now Lord Broers (left). The three men were photographed on the evening of a formal dinner following Narita's election as a fellow of the Academy in 2002.

Red ribbon edit

 
Current design of the Medal of Honor with Red Ribbon

First awarded in 1882. Awarded to individuals who have risked their own lives to save the lives of others.

Green ribbon edit

 
Current design of the Medal of Honor with Green Ribbon

First awarded in 1882. Originally awarded "to children, grandchildren, wives and servants for remarkable acts of piety; and to individuals who, through their diligence and perseverance while engaging in their professional activities, became public role models".

Changed social values after World War II had resulted in the conferment of this medal being suspended after 1950; since 1955 it has been replaced to some extent by the revived Medal with Yellow Ribbon (see below). However, in 2003 the Medal with Green Ribbon was revived as an award to morally remarkable individuals who have actively taken part in serving society.[citation needed]

Yellow ribbon edit

 
Current design of the Medal of Honor with Yellow Ribbon

First awarded in 1887 (later abolished); revived in 1955. Awarded to individuals who, through their diligence and perseverance while engaging in their professional activities, became public role models.

Purple ribbon edit

 
Current design of the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon

First awarded in 1955. Awarded to individuals who have contributed to academic and artistic developments, improvements and accomplishments.

Blue ribbon edit

 
Current design of the Medal of Honor with Blue Ribbon

First awarded in 1882. Awarded to individuals who have made significant achievements in the areas of public welfare or public service.

Dark blue ribbon edit

 
Current design of the Medal of Honor with Dark Blue Ribbon

First awarded in 1919. Awarded to individuals who have made exceptionally generous financial contributions for the well-being of the public.

Select recipients edit

Red edit

  • Samuel Robinson[2]
  • Yan Jun, a People's Republic of China citizen who saved a Japanese child from drowning during a typhoon in September 2013[3]
  • Anuj Raj Karki, a Nepalese citizen who saved a Japanese girl lying unconscious on a railway track.
  • Momoko Fukuda, a 20 year old student at the Okayama University of Science saved the life of an elderly women from an oncoming train after she got stuck on a railroad crossing.[4]

Green edit

Yellow edit

Purple edit

Blue edit

Dark blue edit

References edit

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  31. ^ "2003年/平成15年". Archived from the original on 2013-01-22. Retrieved 2014-03-10. Chronological report of Japan's Art Yearbook by Independent Administrative Institution National Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Tokyo)
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  36. ^ "Kyushu University [Hiroyuki Sasaki (Professor) Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Department of Molecular and Structural Biology]". hyoka.ofc.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
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  38. ^ "'Enka' icon Shimakura dies at 75". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 2013-11-11. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  39. ^ "Shimura, 76, Actor In Films by Kurosawa". The New York Times. 1992-02-15. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  40. ^ The Japan Prize Foundation: Dr. Yasuharu Suematsu. Dated 2014, Archived copy at archive.org
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  42. ^ "秋の褒章、高橋留美子さんら" [Autumn medal 2020, Rumiko Takahashi and others]. Kyodo News. November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
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  54. ^ https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/press6e_000488.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  55. ^ "春の褒章、役所広司さんら674人20団体". Asahi Shimbun (Digital) (in Japanese). 2012-04-28. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  56. ^ "Katsuya Yokoyama". Retrieved 2022-12-24.
  57. ^ "Kashio Toshio | CASIO". CASIO Official Website. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
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  59. ^ Honor awarded 1960 – Sony Corporation: [1].
  60. ^ Honor awarded 2009 (Nagasaki Prefecture) Archived 2010-09-11 at the Wayback Machine
  61. ^ a b Honor awarded 2009 (Kyoto Prefecture) Archived 2010-09-11 at the Wayback Machine
  62. ^ Sony, "Passing of Norio Ohga, Senior Advisor and former President and Chairman, Sony Corporation," April 23, 2011; retrieved 2011-08-08
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  64. ^ Honor awarded 1984 – Toyota Motor Corporation: Toyoda, Honorary Chairman Archived 2009-06-04 at the Wayback Machine
  65. ^ Honor awarded 2009 (Fukuoka Prefecture) Archived 2010-09-11 at the Wayback Machine
  66. ^ "Profile". www.gojukai.com.
  67. ^ Parker, Fitzgerald (1936). Twenty-Sixth Annual Report, Woman's Missionary Council of The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Home Mission Movement, 1935–1936. Nashville, Tennessee: Methodist Episcopal Church, South Whitmore & Smith, Agents.
  68. ^ jrharbort (5 November 2013). "Crypton CEO Awarded Blue Ribbon Medal of Honor, Snow Miku 2014 Event Info, Meiko V3 Details Announced". Mikufan.com.
  69. ^ "Kobe Institute of Computing - History". www.kic.ac.jp.
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  71. ^ "X JAPAN's YOSHIKI Receives Prestigious Japanese Medal Of Honor". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 2021-03-11. Retrieved 2021-03-15.

Bibliography edit

  • Peterson, James W., Barry C. Weaver and Michael A. Quigley. (2001). Orders and Medals of Japan and Associated States. San Ramon, California: Orders and Medals Society of America. ISBN 1-890974-09-9

External links edit

  • Japan, Cabinet Office: Decorations and Medals
    • Decoration Bureau: Medals of Honour
  • Japan Mint: Production Process