Awards, Orders and Decorations

The Decorations of Japan

There are five kinds of official decorations in Japan

1) The Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum is the highest degree of honor. It is conferred only on the Imperial family, and, rarely, on heads of state such as President Dwight David Eisenhower.

2)The Order of the Rising Sun is bestowed on men. It was originally instituted as The Order of Merit on April 10, 1875, by Emperor Meiji as an award only to males for exceptional merit, civil or military. The Order comes in eight classes. "The badge consists of a multi-rayed white enamel star with a gold-rimmed, polished garnet in center. The badge is suspended from three green paulownia leaves and flowers. The ribbon is ivory moire edged with red. In the seventh class the Decoration consists of the green paulownia flowers alone. Eighth grade, silver paulownia flowers alone" (R. Werlich, Orders and Decorations of All Nations, 1965, 196).

3) The Order of the Precious Crown is for women.

4) The Order of the Sacred Treasure is awarded to both men and women.

5) The Order of Culture is given to those in the sciences and the arts.

The first foreign recipients were the three astronauts of the U.S. Apollo space rocket in 1969.

History

The Order of the Rising Sun was established in 1875 and the Order of the Sacred Treasure in 1888. After the Second World War the giving of decorations, except for culture, was interrupted for eight years. The practice resumed in 1953.

Bestowing honors on foreigners became a custom in 1981. These are conferred on April 29 and November 3 each year. They are awarded to foreigners who have made outstanding contributions to promote foreign relations with Japan. Between 1981 and 1988, 715 foreigners received decorations.

"The Prime Minister's office, in surveying, researching and planning for the awards system, is responsible for administrative aspects of the judging and the conferring of awards in general" (Japan. Decoration Bureau.)