Order of the Chrysanthemum

Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
大勲位菊花章
Dai-kun'i kikka-shō
Awarded by the Emperor of Japan
Awarded for Exceptionally meritorious achievement/service
Status Currently constituted
Sovereign HIM The Emperor
Grades Collar
Grand Cordon
Precedence
Next (higher) None; highest.
Next (lower) Order of the Paulownia Flowers

Ribbon of the Order

The Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (大勲位菊花章, Dai-kun'i kikka-shō, literally Grand Order of the Capitulum of the Chrysanthemums) is Japan's highest order. The Grand Cordon of the Order was established in 1876 by Emperor Meiji of Japan; the collar of the Order was added on 4 January 1888. Although technically the order has only one class, it can either be awarded "with collar", meaning on a chain, or "with grand cordon", accompanied by a sash. Unlike its European counterparts, the order may be conferred posthumously.

Apart from the Imperial Family, only six Japanese citizens have ever been decorated with the collar in their lifetimes; the last such award was to former Prime Minister Saionji Kinmochi in 1928. Seven others have been posthumously decorated with the collar; the last such award was to former Prime Minister Sato Eisaku in 1975. Today, only the reigning Emperor holds this dignity as sovereign of the order; however, exceptions are made for foreign heads of state, who can be awarded the collar in friendship.

The grand cordon is the highest possible honour a Japanese citizen can be awarded during his or her lifetime. Aside from the Imperial Family, only 21 grand cordons have been awarded to living citizens and 29 to the deceased.

Insignia

The collar of the order is made of gold, and features the kanji for "Meiji", in classic form, indicating the era of the order's establishment. It is decorated with gold chrysanthemum blossoms and green-enamelled leaves.

The sash of the grand cordon of the order is red with dark blue border stripes. It is worn on the right shoulder.

The star of the order is similar to the badge, but in silver, without the chrysanthemum suspension, and with an eight-pointed gilt medallion (with white-enamelled rays and red-enamelled sun disc) placed at the centre. It is worn on the left chest.

The badge of the order is a four-pointed gilt badge with white-enamelled rays; the centre bears a red enamelled sun disc. On each of the four corners of the badge is a yellow-enamelled chrysanthemum blossom with green-enamelled chrysanthemum leaves. The badge is suspended on a yellow-enamelled chrysanthemum, either on the collar or on the grand cordon.

Ribbon bars

Collar
Grand Cordon

Sovereigns

Information from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

  • Emperor Meiji (27 December 1876)
  • Emperor Taishō (Grand Cordon 3 November 1889; Collar 10 May 1900; Sovereign from 30 July 1912)
  • Emperor Shōwa (Grand Cordon 9 September 1912; Collar as Regent 24 September 1921; Sovereign from 25 December 1926)
  • Emperor Akihito (Grand Cordon 10 November 1952; Sovereign from 7 January 1989)

Awards of the Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum to members of the Imperial Family and royalty

Information from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

Awards made to imperial princes while living

Posthumous awards to imperial princes

Posthumous award to foreign royalty

Awards of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum to members of the Imperial Family and royalty

Information from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

Awards made to imperial princes while living

Posthumous awards to imperial princes

Awards to foreign royalty

Ordinary awards of the Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum

Marshal-Admiral Marquis Tōgō Heihachirō, with the Collar and the Grand Cordon of the Orders of the Chrysanthemum. Tōgō was one of the only six subjects to whom the Collar was awarded while living.

Information incorporated from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

Awards made to living individuals

Posthumous awards

Ordinary awards of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum

Incorporates information from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

Awards made to living recipients

* Later awarded the Collar
** Posthumously awarded the Collar

Posthumous awards

Foreign recipients of the Order of the Chrysanthemum

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Collar

Grand Cordon

Collar (deceased)

Grand Cordon (deceased)

Notes

  1. ↑ Promoted from Grand Cordon in 1987.
  2. ↑ Decoration probably conferred during 1969 State Visit to Japan -- no specific citation support.
  3. ↑ Promoted from Grand Cordon awarded in 1955.
  4. ↑ Awarded October 1887.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/ms/po/page22_001017.html
  2. 1 2 Bortrick, William (2009) The Royal Family - HM Queen Elizabeth II, Burke's Peerage & Gentry
  3. ↑ http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/the-belgian-king-albert-ii-and-queen-paola-and-their-eldest-news-photo/173523009#the-belgian-king-albert-ii-and-queen-paola-and-their-eldest-son-crown-picture-id173523009
  4. ↑ http://www.noblesseetroyautes.com/banquet-palais-imperial-de-tokyo/
  5. ↑ http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/protocol/jokun_h22.html
  6. ↑ Arab News
  7. ↑ Order awarded 5 Oct. 1971:Regiments: British, Empire, Commonwealth Archived 13 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ Order awarded 5 Oct. 1971:Regiments: British, Empire, Commonwealth Archived 23 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ ViewImages.com
  10. ↑ Danish Crown Prince website Archived 19 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ Belga Pictures, State visit in Japan, 1996, Sovereign couples & Prince Philippe Archived 2 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  13. ↑ Order awarded 26 May 1994, mentioned in his biography in the official publication of the Belgian Senate
  14. ↑ http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/protocol/jokun_h25.html
  15. ↑ http://www.estonia.com.au/pics/er_21.pdf%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D
  16. ↑ President of the Republic of Lithuania - Biography
  17. ↑ Polish presidential web page Archived 16 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  18. ↑
  19. ↑ Quismundo, Tarra (3 June 2015). "Aquino gets Japan's highest honor from imperial family". Tokyo: Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  20. ↑ http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/ms/po/page25_000707.html
  21. ↑ Honor awarded 1930 -- "Japan to Decorate King Alfonso Today; Emperor's Brother Nears Madrid With Collar of the Chrysanthemum for Spanish King." New York Times, 3 November 1930.
  22. ↑ osmanlihanedanvakfi.com Archived 16 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  23. ↑ During the visit of Prince Komatsu Akihito to the UK in June 1902 to attend his coronation -- "Court Circular". The Times (36794). London. 14 June 1902. p. 12.
  24. ↑ "The Martyrs of Turkish Fleet at the Shore of Ooshima" (slides 5-6 of "A Brief Introduction to International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians"). Rotary Mariners. Archived from the original on 8 February 2005.
  25. ↑ Awarded 20 February 1906. Redesdale, Lord, The Garter Mission to Japan. London: Macmillan, 1906.P. 26.
  26. ↑ Honor awarded 1954 -- Weisman, Stephen. "Reagan Given Top Award by Japanese," New York Times. 24 October 1989.
  27. ↑ Honor awarded 1929 -- "Imperial Garter," Time Magazine, 13 May 1929.
  28. ↑ Honor awarded in 1938 -- "Flower to Mussolini," Time Magazine, 5 September 1938.
  29. ↑ Honor awarded in 1024 -- "Japan Decorates Obregon; Order of the Chrysanthemum is Conferred by Special Ambassador," New York Times, 28 November 1924.
  30. ↑ Honor awarded 1931 -- "Mighty Monarch," Time Magazine, 20 April 1931.
  31. ↑ Honor awarded 1989 -- Weisman, Stephen. "Reagan Given Top Award by Japanese," New York Times. 24 October 1989.
  32. ↑ Vancouver Maritime Museum Archived 5 January 2013 at Archive.is
  33. ↑ Honor awarded 1966 --
  34. 1 2 Shoa6

Sources

  • 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 978-1-890-97409-1; OCLC 45437720
  • http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/congrats-to-him-pm-modi-s-message-for-dr-manmohan-singh-616672

See also

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