1st through 8th Class (1875–2003) Since 2003: Grand Cordon Gold and Silver Star (Rays, Principal Grade) Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (Cordon, Middle Grade) Gold Rays with Rosette (Cordon, Junior Grade) Gold and Silver Rays (Double Rays) Silver Rays (Single Ray)
US Navy Admiral Dennis C. Blair being presented the badge and sash of the order (2002).
The Order of the Rising Sun (旭日章, Kyokujitsu-shō) is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government,[1] created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State.[2] The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun. The design of the Rising Sun symbolizes energy as powerful as the rising sun[3] in parallel with the "rising sun" concept of Japan ("Land of the Rising Sun").
The order is awarded to those who have made distinguished achievements in international relations, promotion of Japanese culture, advancements in their field, development in welfare or preservation of the environment.[4] Prior to the end of World War II, it was also awarded for exemplary military service. Beginning in 2003, the two lowest rankings (7th and 8th classes) for the Order of the Rising Sun were abolished, with the highest degree becoming a separate order known as the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, with the single rank of Grand Cordon.[5]
While it is the third highest order bestowed by the Japanese government, it is however generally the highest ordinarily conferred order. The highest Japanese order, the Order of the Chrysanthemum, is reserved for heads of state or royalty, while the second highest order, the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, is mostly reserved for politicians.
The modern version of this honour has been conferred on non-Japanese recipients beginning in 1981 (although several foreigners were given the honor before World War II); and women were awarded the Order starting in 2003 (previously, women were awarded the Order of the Precious Crown).[6] The awarding of the Order is administered by the Decoration Bureau of the Cabinet Office headed by the Japanese Prime Minister. It is awarded in the name of the Emperor and can be awarded posthumously.
Classes
Chart depicting all 8 classes of the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun.
The Order was awarded in nine classes until 2003, when the Grand Cordon with Paulownia Flowers was made a separate order, and the lowest two classes were abolished. Since then, it has been awarded in six classes. Conventionally, a diploma is prepared to accompany the insignia of the order, and in some rare instances, the personal signature of the Emperor will have been added. As an illustration of the wording of the text, a translation of a representative 1929 diploma says:
By the grace of Heaven, Emperor of Japan, seated on the throne occupied by the same dynasty from time immemorial,
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hand and caused the Grand Seal of State to be affixed at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo, this thirteenth day of the fifth month of the fourth year of Shōwa, corresponding to the 2,589th year from the accession to the throne of Emperor Jimmu."[7]
Insignia
The star for the Grand Cordon and Second Class is a silver star of eight points, each point having three alternating silver rays; the central emblem is identical to the badge. It is worn on the left chest for the Grand Cordon, on the right chest for the 2nd Class.
The badge for the Grand Cordon to Sixth Classes is an eight-pointed badge bearing a central red enamelled sun disc, with gilt points (1st–4th Classes), with four gilt and four silver points (5th Class), or with silver points (6th Class); each point comprises three white enamelled rays. It is suspended from three enamelled paulownia leaves (not chrysanthemum leaves as the Decoration Bureau page claims) on a ribbon in white with red border stripes, worn as a sash from the right shoulder for the Grand Cordon, as a necklet for the 2nd and 3rd Classes and on the left chest for the 4th to 6th Classes (with a rosette for the 4th Class).
The badge for the Seventh and Eighth Classes consisted of a silver medal in the shape of three paulownia leaves, enamelled for the 7th Class and plain for the 8th Class. Both were suspended on a ribbon, again in white with red border stripes, and worn on the left chest. Both classes were abolished in 2003 and replaced by the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, a single-class order that now ranks above the Order of the Rising Sun.
In 2003, the 7th and 8th levels – named for leaves of the Paulownia tree, long used as a mon (emblem) for the highest levels of Japanese society – were moved to a new and distinct order, the single-class Order of the Paulownia Flowers.[5]
In 2003, the 7th and 8th levels – named for leaves of the Paulownia tree, long used as a mon (emblem) for the highest levels of Japanese society – were moved to a new and distinct order, the single-class Order of the Paulownia Flowers.[5]
^"Prince Komatsu at the Mansion House". The Times. No. 36802. London. 24 June 1902. p. 8.
^"Professor Donald Keene". The Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture at Columbia University. Columbia University. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
^"I-House Life"(PDF). International House News and Information. University of Chicago. Archived from the original(PDF) on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
^Mortimer H. Schiff and Otto H. Kahn of Kuhn, Loeb & Co., New York, are among the American hankers who have been awarded decorations by the Emperor of Japan. Mr. Schiff was awarded the second class order of the Sacred Treasure and Mr. Kahn, Third Class Order of the Rising Sunhttps://www.jta.org/1927/10/09/archive/schiff-and-kahn-honored-by-japanese-government (retrieved 26 October 2017)
^Rojas, Cristina (28 April 2022). "PSU Professor Receives Prestigious Imperial Award from Japan". Portland State University. Retrieved 29 April 2022. Professor of Japanese Larry Kominz received the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon this week.
^"MIS Honors & Awards". National Japanese American Historical Society. MIS Association of Northern California. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
^George, Stuart (2014). "Mifune, Kyuzo". A Supplementary Dictionary of Sports Personalities. Oxford Reference. Oxford University Press. ISBN9780191752186. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
^L.K. Herbert-Gustar and P.A. Nott published a biography of Milne John Milne, Father of Modern Seismology in 1980 p. 120 ISBN0-904404-34-X
^Paul Kabrna "John Milne – the Man who Mapped the Shaking Earth" ISBN978-0-9555289-0-3 Published by Craven & Pendle Geological Society in March 2007.pp68
^Founder of center for Japonology in Lithuania, first Japanese translator, Japanese teacher and popularizer of Japanese culture in Lithuania [2]Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
^Mr. Michael Arnold Hodgkin has been awarded "The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette" for his contribution to promoting friendly relations and mutual understanding between Japan and Australia."2019 Autumn Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals". Embassy of Japan in Australia. 5 November 2019.
^"Alumni William (Miller Kisselman) Imbrie, D.D.". The Princeton Seminary Bulletin. 23 (2): 572. 1929.
^"Archived copy". scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net. Archived from the original on 14 June 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^Unpaginated editors' chronology appended to Kiyoshi Nishiyama, Shunkō shūshoku (春光秋色) / Seasonal Aspects of Japan (Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1979) (in Japanese and English).
^Chinen, Karleen C. (2012). Hawaii's AJA Pioneers: One hundred profiles commemorating the centennial of the Hawaii Hochi. Honolulu: Hawaii Hochi. pp. 18–19.
^Russian: «Полный послужной список Корпуса Инженер Механиков Генерал-Майора Зарубина 1-го» (ЦГАВМФ СССР Фонд 406 опись 3 дело 960 лист 21 (оборотный)); English: "A full track record of Mechanical Engineering Corps Major-General Zarubin 1st" (Central State Archive of the Navy of the Soviet Union (Russian State Naval Archives now), Fond 406 inventory 3 file 960 sheet 21 (reverse side))
Further reading
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.
