Medals of Honor (Japan)

Decoration by the Government of Japan

Award

Medals of Honor

Former and present medal designs, with respective ribbons

Type| Civil decoration
Awarded for| Meritorious deeds or excellence in the respective field of work
Country| Japan
Presented by| the Emperor of Japan
Established| 7 December 1881 (1881-12-07)
First award| 1882
Final award| 2024
Precedence
Next (higher)| Person of Cultural Merit

For the military award, see Military Medal of Honor.

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 Emperor Shōwa) and November 3 (the birthday of Emperor Meiji).

## 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]

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

### Red

[edit]

* Samuel Robinson, a British-Canadian Royal Naval Reserve officer who participated in relief efforts in the aftermath of the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake[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.[citation needed]
* Momoko Fukuda, a 20-year-old student at the Okayama University of Science who saved the life of an elderly woman from an oncoming train after she became trapped on a railroad crossing.[4]

### Green

[edit]

* Ryōtarō Sugi[5]
* Torakusu Yamaha[6]

### Yellow

[edit]

* Ken Ono[7]
* Hiroshi Maeda[8]
* Noguchi Naohiko[9]
* Hiroshi Tsukakoshi[10]
* Hisashi Suzuki[11]
* Mitsugu Shibata[12]

### Purple

[edit]

* Hiroyuki Sanada[13]
* Osamu Akimoto[14]
* Yasushi Akimoto[15]
* Toshiko Akiyoshi[16]
* Hideaki Anno[17]
* Shizuka Arakawa[18]
* Chieko Asakawa[19]
* Kinji Fukasaku[20]
* Moto Hagio[21]
* Yuzuru Hanyu[22]
* Machiko Hasegawa[21]
* Joe Hisaishi[23][24]
* Akira Ifukube[25]
* Sayuri Ishikawa[26]
* Chika Kuroda[27]
* Keisuke Kuwata[28]
* Akihiro Maeta[29]
* Takashi Matsumoto[28]
* Miyuki Nakajima[23]
* Eiichi Nakamura[23]
* Koichi Nakano[18]
* Hitoshi Narita[30]
* Tetsuya Noda[31]
* Hideyuki Okano[32]
* Katsuhiro Otomo[33]
* Shoichi Ozawa[34]
* Takao Saito[35]
* Hiroyuki Sasaki[36]
* Jian-ren Shen[37]
* Chiyoko Shimakura[38]
* Takashi Shimura[39]
* Yasuharu Suematsu[40]
* Taihō Kōki[41]
* Rumiko Takahashi[42][43]
* Keiko Takemiya[44]
* Ichirō Tominaga [ja][45]
* Mitsuo Tsukahara[23]
* Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi[23]
* Morihei Ueshiba[46]
* Hozan Yamamoto[47]
* Yoshihisa Yamamoto[48][49]
* Koji Yamamura[50]
* Kono Yasui[51]
* Akinori Yonezawa[23]
* Masaaki Yuasa[52]
* Toshiko Yuasa[53]
* Kisna Gupta[54]
* Kōji Yakusho[55]
* Katsuya Yokoyama[56]

### Blue

[edit]

* Toshio Kashio awarded in 1984 for contributions to Japan's post-WWII economic recovery through Kashio Seisakujo (Casio Computer Co.)[57]
* Clara Converse awarded 1929 for contributions to women's education.[58]
* Tano Jōdai awarded for contributions to women's education
* Rokuro Ishikawa
* Koichi Kawai
* Yasuhiro Fukushima[23]
* Yanosuke Hirai, Nuclear engineer whose precaution and foresight prevented two nuclear disasters.
* Masaru Ibuka[59]
* Kaoru Inoue[60]
* Kazuo Imai[61]
* Keiichi Ishizaka[23]
* Norio Ohga[62]
* Eishiro Saito[63]
* Hiroko Sakai[61]
* Nobuchika Sugimura
* Shoichiro Toyoda[64]
* Yoshikazu Yahiro[65]
* Gōgen Yamaguchi[66]
* Alice Appenzeller[67]
* Magokichi Yamaoka
* Carlos Ghosn
* Toshiko Satake (Satake Corporation)
* Abbas Kiarostami
* Hiroyuki Ito[68] (Crypton Future Media)
* Miyazaki Atsuo
* Tomio Fukuoka (1993)[69]
* Tokio Yokoi, Rev ordained minister and politician, international author 1890 to 1920. IHJ 3rd Class Honour award for his contributions during the 1919 Paris Peace Talks
* Tsuyoshi Kikukawa [2]
* Kisshomaru Ueshiba [3]
* Moriteru Ueshiba [4]
* Takeshi "Shin" Okawara[70]

### Dark blue

[edit]

* Ayumi Hamasaki
* Shingo Katori
* Tak Matsumoto[71]
* Masahiro Nakai
* Takahiro Nishijima
* Yoshiki[72]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "日本の勲章・褒章（賞勲局） - 内閣府". www8.cao.go.jp.
2. ^ Honor awarded 1923 – National Maritime Museum Archived 2009-03-06 at the Wayback Machine (UK)
3. ^ "Abe gives thank-you letter to Chinese student for rescuing boy". The Japan Times. 14 November 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
4. ^ "Momoko Fukuda Article". Sanyo Broadcasting. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
5. ^ "杉良太郎、緑綬褒章伝達式で「重い受章」と気持ちも新た". Oricon News. 4 March 2015.
6. ^ "torakusu yamaha biography". cactus-journal-of-tourism.ase.ro. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
7. ^ Honor awarded 2009 (Okayama Prefecture) Archived 2010-09-11 at the Wayback Machine
8. ^ Honor awarded 2009 (Osaka Prefecture) Archived 2010-09-11 at the Wayback Machine
9. ^ "Kontatsu. Co., Ltd". www.kontatsu.co.jp.
10. ^ "Tree-Ring Management". Japan Library.
11. ^ Awarded 29 April 2007 http://saas3.startialab.com/acti_books/1045173943/7774/_SWF_Window.html
12. ^ Honor awarded 2016
13. ^ "Miss Hokusai Director Keiichi Hara Receives Japan's Medal with Purple Ribbon". Anime News Network. 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
14. ^ "KochiKame Creator Osamu Akimoto Wins Japan's Medal with Purple Ribbon". Anime News Network. 2019-11-02. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
15. ^ "「春の褒章」秋元康さん 平野歩夢さんら688人 20団体が受章" ["Spring Medal" Yasushi Akimoto, Ayumu Hirano and other 688 people 20 groups received the award]. NHK. April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
16. ^ Japan Foundation – Toshiko Akiyoshi Archived 2012-03-20 at the Wayback Machine
17. ^ "春の褒章に高木美帆さんら 688人、作詞家の秋元康さんも". Kahoku Shimpo. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
18. ^ a b "平成18年度第1回理事会議事録" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-12-13.
19. ^ "IBM Research: IBM Fellow Chieko Asakawa awarded Medal of Honor". ibmresearchnews.blogspot.com.
20. ^ "Renowned director Fukasaku, of 'Battle Royale' fame, dies". The Japan Times. 13 January 2003. Retrieved 2014-08-29.
21. ^ a b Ransom, Ko (27 April 2012). "Hagio Is 1st Shōjo Manga Creator to Win Japan's Purple Ribbon (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
22. ^ "紫綬褒章:羽生「更なる好成績を」 - 毎日新聞". Archived from the original on 2015-11-19. Retrieved 2015-09-06.
23. ^ a b c d e f g h Honor awarded 2009 (Tokyo Prefecture) Archived 2005-05-25 at the Wayback Machine
24. ^ "678 individuals, 24 groups awarded Medals of Honor," Archived 2009-11-03 at the Wayback Machine Mainichi Shimbun. November 3, 2009; "Ghibli Composer Joe Hisaishi Awarded Medal of Honour," Anime News Network. November 3, 2009.
25. ^ "伊福部昭音楽資料室" [Akira Ifukube Music Library]. Town of Otofuke. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
26. ^ Jiji press, 20 May 2019 (「歌手の石川さゆりさんら紫綬褒章=囲碁の趙治勲さんも－春の褒章」https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2019052000090&g=pol ), viewed 9, June, 2019. See also, Ishikawa's press conference script, (「春の紫綬褒章、受章。」 http://www.ishikawasayuri.com/news/2019/05/post_442.html ), viewed 9, June, 2019.
27. ^ "Chika Kuroda (1884~1968)". Ochanomizu University. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
28. ^ a b "松本隆が紫綬褒章「自分の作品が自分の存在を証明してくれた」". Natalie (in Japanese). 2017-11-02. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
29. ^ "Maeta Akihiro (b. 1954) - Onishi Gallery - New York".
30. ^ Honor awarded 1990 – Office of Naval Research (US): "Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh admits Office of Naval Research engineer to United Kingdom's Royal Academy of Engineering," Archived 2007-07-13 at the Wayback Machine Press release. November 11, 2002.
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)
32. ^ "Info" (PDF). www.brain.riken.jp.
33. ^ "Anime News: 'Akira' creator Katsuhiro Otomo honored by government". Asahi Shimbun. 2013-11-13. Archived from the original on 2013-11-16. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
34. ^ "Actor, folk art researcher Ozawa dies". Kyodo. Japan Times. 2012-12-08. Retrieved 2012-12-31.
35. ^ "'Golgo 13' manga series author Takao Saito dies at 84 of cancer". The Asahi Shimbun. 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
36. ^ "Kyushu University [Hiroyuki Sasaki (Professor) Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Department of Molecular and Structural Biology]". hyoka.ofc.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
37. ^ "Professor Shen awarded Japan's Medal with Purple Ribbon in Autumn 2020". Retrieved 2020-11-02.
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
41. ^ "元横綱・大鵬の納谷幸喜さんが死去 72歳" (in Japanese). The Nikkei. 2013-01-19. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
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.
43. ^ "Ranma 1/2, Inuyasha Creator Rumiko Takahashi Receives Japan's Medal with Purple Ribbon". Anime News Network. November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
44. ^ Sherman, Jennifer (3 November 2014). "To Terra's Takemiya Receives Japan Medal with Purple Ribbon". Anime News Network. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
45. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (22 May 2021). "Manga Creator Ichirō Tominaga Passes Away at 96". Anime News Network. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
46. ^ Honor conferred 1960 – North Austin Tae Kwan Do: "Chronology of the Life of Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido."
47. ^ "Hozan Yamamoto: The Story of Japan's National Treasure". 2021-07-08. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
48. ^ "Quantum optics research earns medal from Japanese emperor - Stanford News Release". news.stanford.edu. 18 November 2005.
49. ^ "Professor Yoshihisa Yamamoto is awarded "Medal with Purple Ribbon"". www.nii.ac.jp.
50. ^ "短編アニメ、1人で描く自由 紫綬褒章受章の山村浩二：朝日新聞デジタル". June 2019.
51. ^ "Yasui, Kono (1880–1971)". Dictionary of Women Worldwide: 25,000 Women Through the Ages. 2007. Archived from the original on 24 February 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
52. ^ "「秋の褒章」俳優の内野聖陽さんなどが受章へ". NHK (in Japanese). 2021-11-02. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
53. ^ Yagi, Eri; Matsuda, Hisako (August 2007). "Toshiko Yuasa (1909–80): the First Japanese Woman Physicist and Her Followers in Japan" (PDF). AAPPS Bulletin. 17 (4): 15–17\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-07-12. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
54. ^ "Foreign Minister's Commendations for FY 2023". August 16, 2023.
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.
58. ^ Hill, Edith Naomi, ed. (July 1929). "Clara A. Converse is Honored by Japan". The Smith Alumnae Quarterly. 20 (4). Northampton, Massachusetts: The Alumnae Association of Smith College: 427. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
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
63. ^ "訃報（経団連名誉会長、当社社友名誉会長 斎藤英四郎殿）[News of death: President Emeritus of Keidanren, Honorary Chairman of our company, Saito Eishiro]". Nippon Steel. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
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.
70. ^ "DELSOLE » About Us". www.del-sole.co.jp/en/about-us/. Archived from the original on 2024-09-18.
71. ^ "B'zの松本孝弘が紺綬褒章を受章" (in Japanese). Natalie. 2022-04-07. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
72. ^ "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

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