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 agilt central disc surrounded by a silver ring ofcherry 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 ofEmperor Shōwa) and November 3 (the birthday ofEmperor Meiji).
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 theRoyal Academy of Engineering, Alec Broers, nowLord 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.
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 ofpiety; 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]
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, have become public role models.
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Yan Jun, a People's Republic of China citizen who saved a Japanese child from drowning during atyphoon 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 theOkayama University of Science who saved the life of an elderly woman from an oncoming train after she became trapped on a railroad crossing.[4]
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
^"「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. Archived fromthe original on April 27, 2022. RetrievedApril 28, 2022.
^"2003年/平成15年". Archived fromthe original on 2013-01-22. Retrieved2014-03-10. Chronological report of Japan's Art Yearbook by Independent Administrative Institution National Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Tokyo)
^"Yasui, Kono (1880–1971)".Dictionary of Women Worldwide: 25,000 Women Through the Ages. 2007. Archived fromthe original on 24 February 2016. Retrieved7 November 2015.
^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. Retrieved16 January 2017.
^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.
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.ISBN1-890974-09-9
