The is a Japanese order, established on 4 January 1888 by

Emperor Meiji , also called or , was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession. Reigning from 13 February 1867 to his death, he was the first monarch of the Empire of Japan and presided over the Meiji era. He was the figur ...

as the Order of Meiji. Originally awarded in eight classes (from 8th to 1st, in ascending order of importance), since 2003 it has been awarded in six classes, the lowest two medals being abolished that year. Originally a male-only decoration, the order has been made available to women since 1919. The Order of the Sacred Treasure, which had 8 ranks until 2003, was awarded as a slightly lower rank than the

Order of the Rising Sun The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight ...

for men and the

Order of the Precious Crown The is a Japanese order, established on January 4, 1888 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. Since the Order of the Rising Sun at that time was an Order for men, it was established as an Order for women. Originally the order had five classes, but on Ap ...

for women. For example, the 1st class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure has been treated as between the 1st class and the 2nd class of the Order of the Rising Sun and the Order of the Precious Crown, and the 2nd class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure has been treated as between the 2nd class and the 3rd class of the Order of the Rising Sun and the Order of the Precious Crown.栄典制度の概要. p.6

Cabinet Office (Japan) The (CAO) is an agency of the Cabinet of Japan. It is responsible for handling the day-to-day affairs of the Cabinet. The Cabinet Office is formally headed by the Prime Minister. Ministers History The Cabinet Office was established on 6 J ...

Since 2003, the Order of the Sacred Treasure has been given the same rank as the Order of the Rising Sun. The Order of the Rising Sun is awarded with an emphasis on achievements to the state, and the Order of the Sacred Treasure is awarded with an emphasis on long-term public service. Since military achievements are not included in the criteria for awarding the Order of the Rising Sun,

Japan Self-Defense Forces The Japan Self-Defense Forces ( ja, 自衛隊, Jieitai; abbreviated JSDF), also informally known as the Japanese Armed Forces, are the unified ''de facto''Since Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution outlaws the formation of armed forces, the ...

personnel are awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure for their long service in public service. For example, the

Chief of Staff, Joint Staff The is the highest-ranking military officer and head of the Operational Authority (command) over the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff assists the Minister of Defense on all matters of the JSDF, and executes orde ...

, the highest rank in the JSDF, receives the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (1st class). The Order of the Sacred Treasure is awarded to persons who have been engaged for many years in the public service of the national and local governments, or in the following non-public services that are equivalent to public service, and who have accumulated distinguished service.勲章の授与基準.

* Work directly involved in education or research at school. * Work directly involved in social welfare at various facilities. * Work directly involved in medical care or health guidance * Work commissioned by the national or local governments, such as conciliation commissioners, volunteer probation officers, and welfare commissioners. * Work that is extremely dangerous. * Work in an extremely mentally or physically demanding environment. * Work in an obscure field other than those listed in the preceding items. Since 2003, the number representing rank included in the official name of the order was removed. As a result, although numbers representing ranks were sometimes used in common names, the formal names such as ''勲一等'' (''Kun-ittō'', First Class) and 勲二等 (''Kun-nitō'', Second Class) were no longer used.

Classes

The Order could be awarded in any of eight classes pre 2003. In 2003 the seventh and eighth classes were dissolved leaving six. 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 The Emperor of Japan is the monarch and the head of the Imperial House of Japan, Imperial Family of Japan. Under the Constitution of Japan, he is defined as the symbol of the Japanese state and the unity of the Japanese people, and his positio ...
, seated on the throne occupied by the same dynasty from time immemorial, We confer the ''Second Class of the Imperial Order of Meiji'' upon Henry Waters Taft, a citizen of the United States of America and a director of the
Japan Society of New York Japan Society is a non-profit organization formed in 1907 to promote friendly relations between the United States and Japan. Its headquarters was designed by Junzo Yoshimura and opened in 1971 at 333 East 47th Street near the United Nations. Wit ...
, and invest him with the insignia of the same class of the '' Order of the Double Rays of the Rising Sun,'' in expression of the good will which we entertain towards him. "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 was the legendary first emperor of Japan according to the '' Nihon Shoki'' and '' Kojiki''. His ascension is traditionally dated as 660 BC.Kelly, Charles F"Kofun Culture"Honor awarded 1929 �
"Japanese Emperor Honors H.W. Taft; Consul-General Gives Insignia for Fostering International Friendship. Diploma Also Presented; Brother of Chief Justice Receives Order of Rising Sun at Exercises Here,"
''New York Times'', 28 June 1929.

Insignia

The insignia of the order incorporates symbols for the three imperial treasures: the '' Yata Mirror'', so sacred that not even the Emperor is allowed to look at it; the '' Yasakani Jewel'', which is made of the finest

jade Jade is a mineral used as jewellery or for ornaments. It is typically green, although may be yellow or white. Jade can refer to either of two different silicate minerals: nephrite (a silicate of calcium and magnesium in the amphibole group of ...

; and the '' Emperor's personal sword''. The ''star'' for the ''Grand Cordon'' and ''Second Class'' is similar to the badge as described above, but effectively with ''two'' sets of Maltese crosses, one in gilt and one placed diagonally in silver. It is worn on the left chest by the Grand Cordon, on the right chest (without any other insignia) by the 2nd class. The ''badge'' for the first through sixth classes is a

Maltese cross The Maltese cross is a cross symbol, consisting of four " V" or arrowhead shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles, two tips pointing outward symmetrically. It is a heraldic cross variant which developed f ...

, in gilt (1st–4th classes), gilt and silver (5th class) and silver (6th class), with white enameled rays (representing the sword). The central disc is blue, bearing an eight-pointed silver star (representing the mirror), surrounded by a wreath with red-enameled dots (representing the jewel). The badge is suspended on a ribbon, worn as a sash on the right shoulder by the Grand Cordon, as a necklet by males of the 2nd and 3rd classes, on the left chest (the ribbon folded into a triangle) by the 4th to 6th classes (with a rosette for the 4th class). For females of the 2nd to 6th classes, the ribbon is a bow worn on the left shoulder (with a rosette for the 4th class). Until 2003, when it was abolished, the ''badge'' of the ''seventh and eighth classes'' was an eight-pointed silver medal, partially

gilded Gilding is a decorative technique for applying a very thin coating of gold over solid surfaces such as metal (most common), wood, porcelain, or stone. A gilded object is also described as "gilt". Where metal is gilded, the metal below was tradi ...

for the 7th class, with representations of just the mirror and the jewel. The badge is suspended on a ribbon, worn by men on the left chest (the ribbon folded into a triangle). For women, the ribbon is a bow worn on the left shoulder. Until 2003, the ''ribbon'' of the order was very pale blue with a gold stripe near the borders; since then the ribbon has been light blue, but retains the gold stripe near the borders. When the ribbon is worn alone, the ribbon for the Fourth Class and above incorporates a blue-and-gold rosette (very pale blue until 2003), with a solid gold bar for the Grand Cordon, a gold and silver bar for the Second Class, a solid silver bar for the Third Class and only the rosette for the Fourth Class. The ribbon for the Fifth and Sixth Classes has a centered blue disc (very pale blue until 2003) with gold rays radiating from its center, eight rays for the Fifth Class and six rays for the Sixth Class. Formerly, the ribbon for the Seventh and Eighth Classes had a centered very pale blue disc with gold rays radiating from its center, four rays for the Seventh Class and three rays for the Eighth Class. File:Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure.png, Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (1st class) File:The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Star.png, The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Star (2nd class) File:The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.png, The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (3rd class) File:The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette.png, The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette (4th class) File:The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays.png, The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays (5th class) File:The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Silver Rays.png, The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Silver Rays (6th class) File:MET 06 442ab F.jpeg, 7th Class (Abolished in 2003) File:MET 06 441ab F.jpeg, 8th Class (Abolished in 2003)

After the 2003 reform

In 2003 the lowest two classes of the Order were abolished. Moreover, the badges of the Order will from now on be suspended from three white-enamelled

paulownia ''Paulownia'' ( ) is a genus of seven to 17 species of hardwood tree (depending on taxonomic authority) in the family Paulowniaceae, the order Lamiales. They are present in much of China, south to northern Laos and Vietnam and are long cultivat ...

leaves.

Selected recipients

1st class, Grand Cordon

Otto Abetz Heinrich Otto Abetz (26 March 1903 – 5 May 1958) was the German ambassador to Vichy France during the Second World War and a convicted war criminal. In July 1949 he was sentenced to twenty years' hard labour by a Paris military tribunal, he was ...

, awarded 1903 * Lt Gen Sir Edward Altham Altham, awarded 1918 * Sir Charles Alexander Anderson, awarded 1921 *

James Burrill Angell James Burrill Angell (January 7, 1829 – April 1, 1916) was an American educator and diplomat. He is best known for being the longest-serving president of the University of Michigan, from 1871 to 1909. He represented the transition from sma ...

, awarded 1909 *

Isoroku Yamamoto was a Marshal Admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and the commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet during World War II until he was killed. Yamamoto held several important posts in the IJN, and undertook many of its changes and reor ...

, awarded 1939 *

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Tun Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi ( Jawi: عبد الله بن احمد بدوي; born 26 November 1939) is a Malaysian politician who served as the 5th Prime Minister of Malaysia from October 2003 to April 2009. He was also the sixth president of ...

, awarded 1981 *

Emilio Álvarez Montalván Emilio Álvarez Montalván (31 July 1919 – 2 July 2014) was a Nicaraguan ophthalmologist and a Foreign Minister of the Republic of Nicaragua. Biography Emilio Álvarez Montalván was born in Managua, Nicaragua. In 1946, he received a Doct ...

, awarded 2002 *

Daniel Boorstin Daniel Joseph Boorstin (October 1, 1914 – February 28, 2004) was an American historian at the University of Chicago who wrote on many topics in American and world history. He was appointed the twelfth Librarian of the United States Congress in ...

, awarded 1986 *

Avery Brundage Avery Brundage (; September 28, 1887 – May 8, 1975) was an American sports administrator who served as the fifth president of the International Olympic Committee from 1952 to 1972. The only American and only non-European to attain that p ...

awarded 1964 * Cho Tong-yun on 21 April 1905 * Sir

Hugh Cortazzi Sir Arthur Henry Hugh Cortazzi, (2 May 1924 – 14 August 2018) was a British diplomat. He was also a distinguished international businessman, academic, author and prominent Japanologist. He was Ambassador from the United Kingdom to Japan ...

, awarded 1995 * General Sir John Stephen Cowans, awarded 1918 *

Takuma Dan Takuma (written: 拓磨, 拓真, 拓馬, 琢磨, 匠馬, 卓磨, 卓真 or 卓馬) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese footballer *, Japanese baseball player *, Japanese motorcycle racer *, Japanes ...

, awarded 1932 *

Henry Willard Denison Henry Willard Denison (May 11, 1846 – July 3, 1914) was an American diplomat and lawyer, active in Meiji period Japan. Biography Denison was born in Guildhall, Vermont, and spent his early years at Lancaster, New Hampshire. He was a graduate ...

Milton Friedman Milton Friedman (; July 31, 1912 – November 16, 2006) was an American economist and statistician who received the 1976 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his research on consumption analysis, monetary history and theory and the ...

, awarded 1986 * Admiral

Albert Gleaves Albert Gleaves (January 1, 1858 – January 6, 1937) was a decorated admiral in the United States Navy, also notable as a naval historian. Biography Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Gleaves graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1877. A ...

, awarded 1920 * Stephen Gomersall awarded 2015 *

Mark Hatfield Mark Odom Hatfield (July 12, 1922 – August 7, 2011) was an American politician and educator from the state of Oregon. A Republican, he served for 30 years as a United States senator from Oregon, and also as chairman of the Senate Appropr ...

, awarded 2003 *

Chushiro Hayashi was a Japanese astrophysicist. Hayashi tracks on the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram are named after him. Hayashi was born in Kyoto and enrolled at the Imperial University of Tokyo in 1940, earning his BSc in Physics after 2½ years, in 1942. He ...

, awarded 1994 *

Daniel Hays Daniel Hays may refer to: * Dan Hays (born 1939), Canadian politician * Daniel Hays (New York politician) (1833–1913), American glove manufacturer and politician * Daniel P. Hays (1854–1923), Jewish-American lawyer from New York {{hndis ...

, awarded 2000 * Lt Gen Sir David Henderson, 1918 *

James McNaughton Hester James McNaughton Hester (19 April 1924 – 31 December 2014) was an internationally recognized educator. Hester was born in Chester, Pennsylvania. He spent his boyhood at various stations to which his father, a United States Navy Chaplain, was ...

, awarded 1981 *

Masaru Ibuka Masaru Ibuka (井深大 ''Ibuka Masaru''; April 11, 1908 – December 19, 1997) was a Japanese electronics industrialist and co-founder of Sony, along with Akio Morita.Kirkup, James"Obituary: Masaru Ibuka,"''Independent'' (London). December 22 ...

(1908–1997) awarded 1978 * Lt Gen Sir Launcelot Edward Kiggell, 1918 * General Sir

Cecil Frederick Nevil Macready General Sir Cecil Frederick Nevil Macready, 1st Baronet, (7 May 1862 – 9 January 1946), known affectionately as Make-Ready (close to the correct pronunciation of his name), was a British Army officer. He served in senior staff appointments in ...

, 1918 * Baron

Matsuoka Yasutake Baron was a legal scholar and cabinet minister in the pre-war Empire of Japan. Biography Matsuoka was a native of Awa Province (modern-day Tokushima Prefecture), where his father was a samurai in the service of Tokushima Domain. After educa ...

, 1902 * Yosuke Matsuoka, 1935 * Umezawa Michiharu, awarded 1914 *

Kōkichi Mikimoto Kōkichi, Kokichi or Koukichi (written: 幸吉, 小吉, 浩吉 or 鋼吉) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese baseball player *, Japanese samurai *, Japanese footballer and manager *, Japanese phot ...

, awarded 1954 * Charles C. Moore, president of the Panama-Pacific Exposition, awarded 1916 *

Akio Morita was a Japanese businessman and co-founder of Sony along with Masaru Ibuka. Early life Akio Morita was born in Nagoya. Morita's family was involved in sake, miso and soy sauce production in the village of Kosugaya (currently a part of Tokoname ...

, awarded 1991 * General Sir Archibald James Murray, 1918 * Lt Gen Sir

James Wolfe Murray Lieutenant-General Sir James Wolfe Murray (13 March 1853 – 17 October 1919) was a British Army officer who served in the Fourth Anglo-Ashanti War, Second Boer War and First World War. He became Chief of the Imperial General Staff three months a ...

, 1918 *

Nakamura Utaemon VI was a Japanese kabuki performer and an artistic director of the Kabuki-za in Tokyo.Strom, Stephanie."Nakamura Utaemon VI, 84, International Star of Kabuki" ''New York Times.'' April 4, 2001''The Dallas Morning News'' He was a prominent member o ...

, awarded 1996 *

Norio Ohga , otherwise spelled ''Norio Oga'' (January 29, 1930 – April 23, 2011), was the former president and chairman of Sony Corporation, credited with spurring the development of the compact disc as a commercially viable audio format. Biography Early ...

, awarded 2001 *

Henry Francis Oliver Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Francis Oliver, (22 January 1865 – 15 October 1965) was a Royal Navy officer. After serving in the Second Boer War as a navigating officer in a cruiser on the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station ...

(1865–1965), awarded 1917 *

Radhabinod Pal Radhabinod Pal (27 January 1886 – 10 January 1967) was an Indian jurist who was a member of the United Nations' International Law Commission from 1952 to 1966. He was one of three Asian judges appointed to the International Military Tribunal ...

, awarded 1966 *

Peter Parker Spider-Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appearance, first appeared in the anthology comic book ''Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August ...

, awarded 1991 * Samuel

Kamuela Parker Samuel Parker, known as Kamuela Parker (June 23, 1853 – March 19, 1920) was a major landowner and businessman on the island of Hawaii, heir to the Parker Ranch estate. He was also a leading political figure at a critical time of the history of ...

(1853–1920), awarded 1892 *

Nancy Pelosi Nancy Patricia Pelosi (; ; born March 26, 1940) is an American politician who has served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives since 2019 and previously from 2007 to 2011. She has represented in the United States House of ...

awarded 2015 * Sir

Julian Ridsdale Sir Julian Errington Ridsdale (8 June 1915 – 21 July 2004) was a British National Liberal and later Conservative politician and long-serving Member of Parliament (MP) for Harwich. He took a particular interest in Japan. The son of a stoc ...

(1915–2004), awarded 1967 and 1990 *

Eishiro Saito (November 11, 1911 - April 22, 2002) was a Japanese businessman, the former President of Nippon Steel, the 6th Chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) from 1986 to 1991, President of the Japan Science Foundation from 1988, President o ...

, awarded 1982 * General Sir Henry Crichton Sclater, 1918 * Princess Soamsawali of Thailand *

Shinji Sogo is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *Shinji Aoyama (真治), a Japanese film director *Shinji Aramaki (伸志), a Japanese anime director and mechanical designer *Shinji Hashimoto, a Japanese game producer ...

, 'Father of the Bullet Train', awarded 1965 *

Kiyoshi Sumiya (born 1925) was a Japanese diplomat who was Japan's ambassador to the Philippines from April 1985 to 1988, at the time of the snap elections that led to the end of the Marcos regime. He also served as Grand Master of the Ceremonies from 20 June 1 ...

, awarded 1998 *

Shoichiro Toyoda is a Japanese retired business executive who served as chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation between 1992–1999,Toyota Honorary Chairman as well as chairman of the influential beginning in May 1994 through May 1998. Under Toyoda's supervision, ...

, awarded 1995 *

Hugh Trenchard Marshal of the Royal Air Force Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard, (3 February 1873 – 10 February 1956) was a British officer who was instrumental in establishing the Royal Air Force. He has been described as the "Father of the ...

, awarded 1921 * Prof.

Pieter van Vollenhoven Pieter van Vollenhoven Jr. (born April 30, 1939) is the husband of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and a member, by marriage, of the Dutch Royal House. Early life and career Van Vollenhoven was born in Schiedam, he is the second son of Pi ...

2nd class, Gold and Silver Star

Hirotugu Akaike was a Japanese statistician. In the early 1970s, he formulated the Akaike information criterion (AIC). AIC is now widely used for model selection, which is commonly the most difficult aspect of statistical inference; additionally, AIC is the basi ...

, awarded 2006 * Momofuku Ando (1910–2007), awarded in 1982 *

Herbert W. Armstrong Herbert W. Armstrong (July 31, 1892 – January 16, 1986) was an American evangelism, evangelist who founded the Worldwide Church of God (WCG). An early pioneer of radio evangelism, radio and television evangelism, Armstrong preached what he c ...

(1892–1986) * Hans Hermann Baerwald, awarded 1989 *

Thomas Baty Thomas Baty (8 February 1869 – 9 February 1954), also known by the name Irene Clyde, was an English writer, lawyer and expert on international law who spent much of his career working for the Imperial Japanese government. Baty was also an act ...

(1869–1954), awarded 1936 * James Molesworth Blair awarded 1921 *

Mary Griggs Burke Mary Griggs Burke (June 20, 1916 – December 8, 2012) was an American art collector. Over fifty years, Burke acquired the largest private collection of Japanese art outside Japan. Her collection grew so large that she housed it in a separate a ...

(1916–2012), awarded 1987 * Pierre Cardin (1922–2020) * Verner W Clapp (1901-1972), awarded 1968 *

Samuel Mills Damon Samuel Mills Damon (March 13, 1845 – July 1, 1924) was a businessman and politician in the Kingdom of Hawaii, through the Republic of Hawaii and into the Territory of Hawaii. Life Damon was born in Honolulu on March 13, 1845. His father was ...

(1845–1924), awarded 1892 *

W. Edwards Deming William Edwards Deming (October 14, 1900 – December 20, 1993) was an American engineer, statistician, professor, author, lecturer, and management consultant. Educated initially as an electrical engineer and later specializing in mathematical ...

(1900–1993), awarded 1960 * Tomio Fukuoka (2008) * James Harold Elmsley (1859–1921) *

Bonner Fellers Brigadier General Bonner Frank Fellers (February 7, 1896 – October 7, 1973) was a United States Army officer who served during World War II as a military attaché and director of psychological warfare. He is notable as the military attaché in ...

, awarded 1971 *

Ted Fujita was a Japanese-American meteorologist whose research primarily focused on severe weather. His research at the University of Chicago on severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and typhoons revolutionized the knowledge of each. Although he is ...

(1920–1998)Profile of Ted Fujita
, uchicago.edu; accessed 2 July 2014. * Fr. Hermann Heuvers S.J., awarded 1969 * Yoshimasa Hirata (1915–2000), awarded 1987 * William G. Irwin (1843–1914), awarded 1892 *

Kaoru Ishikawa was a Japanese organizational theorist and a professor in the engineering faculty at the University of Tokyo noted for his quality management innovations. He is considered a key figure in the development of quality initiatives in Japan, particul ...

(1915–1989) *

Joseph M. Juran Joseph Moses Juran (December 24, 1904 – February 28, 2008) was a Romanian-born American engineer and management consultant. He was an evangelist for quality and quality management, having written several books on those subjects. He was the brot ...

(1904–2008) awarded 1981 *

Yuet Keung Kan Sir Yuet-keung Kan (, 26 July 1913 – 14 September 2012) was a Hong Kong banker, politician and lawyer who was successively appointed Senior Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council and Executive Council in the 1960s and 1970s. He ...

(1913–2012), awarded 1983 * Shahin Lauritzen, awarded 1999 *

Bernard Leach Bernard Howell Leach (5 January 1887 – 6 May 1979), was a British studio potter and art teacher. He is regarded as the "Father of British studio pottery". Biography Early years (Japan) Leach was born in Hong Kong. His mother Eleanor (née ...

(1887–1979) *

Mike Masaoka Mike Masaru Masaoka ( ja, 正岡優, October 15, 1915 – June 26, 1991) was a Japanese-American lobbyist, author, and spokesman. He worked with the Japanese American Citizens League for over 30 years. He was a key player in encouraging cooperati ...

1983 *

Thomas Corwin Mendenhall Thomas Corwin Mendenhall (October 4, 1841 – March 23, 1924) was an American autodidact physicist and meteorologist. He was the first professor hired at Ohio State University in 1873 and the superintendent of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Surve ...

, awarded in 1911 *

Edward S. Morse Edward Sylvester Morse (June 18, 1838 – December 20, 1925) was an American zoologist, archaeologist, and orientalist. He is considered the "Father of Japanese archaeology." Early life Morse was born in Portland, Maine to Jonathan Kimb ...

(1838–1925), awarded in 1922 *

Paul Neumann (Attorney General) Paul Neumann (1839 – July 2, 1901) was a lawyer, politician, and diplomat in California and the Kingdom of Hawaii. Background Born and educated in Prussia, Neumann and his twin brother Edward relocated to California in 1854. The brothers work ...

(1839–1901), awarded 1892 * Richard W. Pound, awarded 1998 *

Johannis de Rijke Johannis de Rijke (December 5, 1842 – January 20, 1913) was a Dutch civil engineer and a foreign advisor to the Japanese government in Meiji period Japan. Early life De Rijke was born in Colijnsplaat on the island Noord-Beveland. Rijsbergen, ...

, awarded 1903 *

Sakıp Sabancı Sakıp Sabancı (7 April 1933 – 10 April 2004) was a Turkish business tycoon and philanthropist. Biography He was the second son of a cotton trader and worked in his father's business without completing high school. He was the head of Turkey' ...

(1993–2004), awarded 1992 *

Jacob Schiff Jacob (; ; ar, يَعْقُوب, Yaʿqūb; gr, Ἰακώβ, Iakṓb), later given the name Israel, is regarded as a patriarch of the Israelites and is an important figure in Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Jac ...

(1847–1920), awarded 1905 * Charles Nichols Spencer (1837–1893), awarded 1892 *

Henry W. Taft Henry Waters Taft (May 27, 1859 – August 11, 1945) was an American lawyer and author. He was the son of Alphonso and brother of President William Howard Taft. A renowned antitrust lawyer, he was a name partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taf ...

(1859–1945) * Ichimatsu Tanaka (1895–1983) *

Akira Toriyama is a Japanese manga artist and character designer. He first achieved mainstream recognition for his highly successful manga series ''Dr. Slump'', before going on to create ''Dragon Ball'' (his best-known work) and acting as a character design ...

(1898–1994), awarded 1971 * Wilfred Chomatsu Tsukiyama (1897–1966), awarded in 1963. *

Guy Tripp Guy Eastman Tripp (April 22, 1865 – June 14, 1927) was an American business executive and an officer in the United States Army. A longtime manager and executive for several companies, he served as Chairman of the Westinghouse Electric Corporat ...

(1865–1927), awarded 1924 *

John Alexander Low Waddell Dr. John Alexander Low Waddell (January 15, 1854 – March 3, 1938, often shortened to J.A.L. Waddell and sometimes known as John Alexander Waddell) was a Canadian-American civil engineer and prolific bridge designer, with more than a thousa ...

(1854–1938), awarded 1922 * John Smith Walker (1826–1893), awarded 1892 * Langdon Warner (1881–1955), awarded 1955 *

William Austin Whiting William Austin Whiting (August 5, 1855 – January 18, 1908) was an American lawyer and politician of the Kingdom, Republic, and Territory of Hawaii. He served as Attorney General of Hawaii and was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Ha ...

(1855–1908), awarded 1892 *

Merriman Colbert Harris Merriman Colbert Harris (July 9, 1846 – May 8, 1921) was a Missionary Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected in 1904, who was active in late nineteenth and early twentieth century Japan. Birth and family Merriman was born July 9, ...

(1846–1921), awarded 1916 * Hermann Adam Widemann (1822–1899), awarded 1892 * Eugene P. Wilkinson

3rd class, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon

Thomas Maxwell Hague (1921-2008), awarded 1992 *

William DeWitt Alexander William DeWitt Alexander (April 2, 1833 – February 21, 1913) was an educator, author and linguist in the Kingdom of Hawaii and Republic of Hawaii. He then constructed maps for the Territory of Hawaii. Early life Alexander was born in Honolulu ...

(1833–1913), awarded 1892 *

John Batchelor John Calvin Batchelor (born April 29, 1948) is an American author and host of ''Eye on the World'' on the CBS Audio Network. His flagship station is New York's 710 WOR. The show is a hard-news-analysis radio program on current events, world his ...

D.D., OBE (1855–1944)

Archdeacon An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in the Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, St Thomas Christians, Eastern Orthodox churches and some other Christian denominations, above that o ...

of an

Anglican Communion The Anglican Communion is the third largest Christian communion after the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Founded in 1867 in London, the communion has more than 85 million members within the Church of England and other ...

Hokkaido is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel. The la ...

awarded in 1933 *

Khalid Jerjes Khalid (variants include Khaled and Kalid; Arabic: خالد) is a popular Arabic male given name meaning "eternal, everlasting, immortal", and it also appears as a surname.

, awarded 2017, Consulting Lawyer of the Embassy of Japan in Iraq * The Rev. Stuart D. B. Picken (1942–2016), awarded 2007 *

Frank Shozo Baba Frank Shōzō Baba (フランク正三馬場, January 3, 1915 – January 16, 2008) was a Japanese American Nisei who made radio broadcasts during World War II in the United States and in post-war Japan. He spent twelve years in Japan from the a ...

(1915–2008) * Gheorghe Bagulescu (1886–1963) *

John Tamatoa Baker John Tamatoa Baker, also given as John Timoteo Baker, (1852 – September 7, 1921) was a Hawaiian politician, businessman, and rancher who served many political posts in the Kingdom of Hawaii, including Governor of the Island of Hawaii from 1892 ...

(1852–1921), awarded 1892 *

Robert Hoapili Baker Robert Hoapili Kekaipukaʻala Baker (/1847 – April 4, 1900) was a Hawaiian ali'i (noble), military officer, courtier, and politician who served many political posts in the Kingdom of Hawaii, including Governor of Maui, Privy Councillor and ...

(c 1845/1847-1900), awarded 1892 * Thomas Baty (1869–1954), awarded 1920 * Henry Franz Bertelmann (1859–1921), awarded 1892 * Captain John P. Brockley USN (born 1942), awarded 1990 Commanding Officer NAF AtsugiRecipient with citation * Delmer Myers Brown (1909–2011), awarded 1997 * George Bull (1929–2001) * Clark Burdick (1868–1948), awarded 1918 *

Joseph Oliver Carter Joseph Oliver Carter (December 20, 1835 – February 27, 1909), known professionally as Joseph O. Carter, also known as J. O. Carter and Joe Carter, was a legal advisor to Queen Liliʻuokalani, serving on her Privy Council of State. He served in ...

(1835–1909), awarded 1892 *

Edoardo Chiossone Edoardo Chiossone (January 21, 1833 – April 11, 1898) was an Italian engraver and painter, noted for his work as a foreign advisor to Meiji period Japan, and for his collection of Japanese art. He designed the first Japanese bank notes. Biogra ...

(1833–98) 1891 * William Henry Cornwell (1843–1903), awarded 1892 *

Dettmar Cramer Dettmar Cramer (4 April 1925 – 17 September 2015) was a German association football, football player and coach who led FC Bayern Munich, Bayern Munich to the 1974–75 European Cup, 1975 and 1975–76 European Cup, 1976 UEFA Champions League, ...

(1925–2015), awarded September 1971 * Charles F. Creighton (1862–1907), awarded 1892 * Captain John Wallace Curtin Sr. USN (born 1944) awarded August 1994 Commanding Officer NAF Atsugi * William B. Dazey(1915–2002), awarded 1961 * Sir Frank Gill (1866–1950) awarded 1930 * Robert Günther, awarded 1929 * Günther Gumprich * Eleanor Hadley (1916–2007), awarded 1986 * John Adair Hassinger (1837–1902), awarded 1892 * Frank P Hastings, Major, ''USS Mohican'', awarded 1892 * Captain Arthur Hawkins (USN) * Col. William F. Hebert (1928–2008), awarded 1970 * Col. Vernon J Henderson (USAF) (1922–2008), awarded 1970 *

Samuel Hill Samuel Hill (13 May 1857 – 26 February 1931), usually known as Sam Hill, was an American businessman, lawyer, railroad executive, and advocate of good roads. He substantially influenced the Pacific Northwest region's economic dev ...

, 1922 *

John Dominis Holt II Colonel John Dominis Kauikeaouli Holt II (March 17, 1861 – December 23, 1915) was an official holding the rank of major and colonel within the Hawaiian Kingdom. After the American annexation of Hawaii, he became an early member of the Democrat ...

(1861–1916), awarded 1892 *

Frederick J. Horne Admiral Frederick Joseph Horne (February 14, 1880 – October 18, 1959) was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy. As the first Vice Chief of Naval Operations, he directed all Navy logistics during World War II. Early career Horne w ...

, awarded 1919 *

Akira Ifukube was a Japanese classical and film music composer, best known for his works on the ''Godzilla'' franchise. Biography Early years in Hokkaido Akira Ifukube was born on 31 May 1914 in Kushiro, Japan as the third son of a police officer Toshimi ...

(1914–2006) * Pieter Philippus Jansen (1902–1982), awarded 11 September 1964 *

Paul P. Kanoa Paul (Paulo) Puhiula Kanoa (June 10, 1832 – March 18, 1895) was a noble and politician in the Hawaiian Kingdom, Kingdom of Hawaii from the island of Kauai, Kauai. Life Paul Puhiula Kanoa was born June 10, 1832 in Honolulu. His hānai father, ...

(1832–1895), awarded 1892 * Professor Iwane Kimura (1932–2019), Kyoto University, awarded 2012, http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/static/en/news_data/h/h1/news7/2012/121103_1.htm * Miles Wedderburn Lampson (1880–1964), awarded 1932 * Trevor Leggett (1914–2000)Dunne, A., & Bowen, R. (2003): Trevor Pryce Leggett profile, ''Britain & Japan: biographical portraits'' (Vol. 4, pp. 323–33). London: Routledge; * Masao Maruyama (1914–1996), awarded 1976 *

Genzō Murakami was a Japanese people, Japanese novelist who was born in Korea during its Korea under Japanese rule, occupation by the Empire of Japan. He is known for his historical novels as well as his influence on Japanese literature following the World War I ...

, awarded 1981 *

Toshiro Mifune was a Japanese actor who appeared in over 150 feature films. He is best known for his 16-film collaboration (1948–1965) with Akira Kurosawa in such works as ''Rashomon'', ''Seven Samurai'', ''The Hidden Fortress'', ''Throne of Blood'', and '' ...

, awarded 1993 *

Tetsuya Noda is a contemporary artist, printmaker and educator.
Government of Japan, Embassy of J ...

, awarded 2015
Tetsuya Noda The Works 1964 – 2016 *

Isamu Noguchi was an American artist and landscape architect whose artistic career spanned six decades, from the 1920s onward. Known for his sculpture and public artworks, Noguchi also designed stage sets for various Martha Graham productions, and several ...

(1904–1988), awarded 1988 *

Thomas Noguchi is the former Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner for the County of Los Angeles. Popularly known as the "coroner to the stars", Noguchi determined the cause of death in many high-profile cases in Hollywood during the 1960s and 1970s. He performed a ...

, awarded 1999 * Samuel Nowlein (–1905), awarded 1892 * Keiko Ozato, awarded 2012 *

Arthur Porter Peterson Arthur Porter Peterson (November 21, 1858 – March 16, 1895) was a lawyer and politician of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He served two separate terms as Attorney General of Hawaii and was a member of Queen Liliuokalani's last cabinet before the Ov ...

(1858–1895), awarded 1892 * Franklin Seaver Pratt (1829–1894), awarded 1892 *

John Curtis Perry John Curtis Perry also known as John Perry (born 18 July 1930) is an East Asian and Oceanic studies professor and historian. He is the Henry Willard Denison Professor Emeritus of History at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts Universi ...

, awarded 1991. * Captain Timothy Edwin Prendergast USN (born 1949) awarded August 1997 Commander Fleet Air, Western Pacific * Leonard Pronko, awarded 1986 * John Keone Likikine Richardson (1853–1917), Private Attorney for Queen Liliuokalani, awarded 1892 * James William Robertson (1852–1919), awarded 1892 *

Eric Gascoigne Robinson Rear Admiral Eric Gascoigne Robinson (16 May 1882 – 20 August 1965) was a Royal Navy officer and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwea ...

(1882–1965) *

Paul Rusch Paul Frederick Rusch (1897 – 1979) was a lay missionary of the Anglican Church in Japan. Rusch is remembered in Japan for his role as an educator and for pioneering activities in development of American football, rural agriculture and post Secon ...

(1897–1979), awarded 1956 *

Eiji Sasaki was a Japanese businessman, former Vice President of Ube Industries and former President of TYS. Early life and education Eiji Sasaki was born in Yamaguchi-shi, Yamaguchi in August 1915. He attended Yamaguchi Senior High School and then grad ...

(1915–2007), awarded 29 April 1998 * Munetsugu Satomi (1904–1996), Graphic Designer, awarded December 1974 * William Schull, awarded 1992. *

Tadahiro Sekimoto was a Japanese electronics engineer, a recipient of the IEEE Medal of Honor (2004), chairman of Japan's Institute for International Socio-Economic Studies (IISE), and former chairman of the Board of Councilors of the Japan Federation of Economi ...

(1926–2007) * Captain Claude B Shaw USN (1918–2012), awarded May 1972 Commanding Officer Fleet Activities Sasebo *

Hiroko Sho is a Japanese ultramarathon and marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of , usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run ...

, awarded 2006 * William James Smith (1839–1906), awarded 1892 *

Sugino Yoshiko Sugino Yoshiko (杉野芳子) ( née Iwasawa, March 2, 1892 July 24, 1978) was a Japanese fashion educator and designer. She founded the Doreme dressmaking school and the Sugino Fashion College. Early life and education Sugino was born in wh ...

, awarded 1978 * Akira Suzuki, awarded 2005 * Col. Fred Grant Swafford (1924–1996), awarded 1972 *

Osamu Tezuka Osamu Tezuka (, born , ''Tezuka Osamu''; – 9 February 1989) was a Japanese manga artist, cartoonist, and animator. Born in Osaka Prefecture, his prolific output, pioneering techniques, and innovative redefinitions of genres earned him such ...

(1928–1989), awarded 1989 *

Herbert Cyril Thacker Major General Herbert Cyril Thacker (16 September 1870 – 2 June 1953) was a Canadian soldier and Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Militia (later the Canadian Army) from 1927 until 1929. Military career Thacker was born the ...

(1870–1953)''Prominent People of the Maritime Provinces''
p. 193 *

Takeo Uesugi was a Japanese-American landscape architect who designed acclaimed Japanese garden installations. He was a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and Kyoto University. Works Born in Osaka, Uesugi's prominent works include: * The ...

, awarded 2010 *

Masanobu Tsuji was a Japanese army officer and politician. During World War II, he was an important tactical planner in the Imperial Japanese Army and developed the detailed plans for the successful Japanese invasion of Malaya at the start of the war. He als ...

(1902–1961), awarded 1942 * Bunei Tsunoda (1913–2008) *

Charles E. Tuttle Charles Egbert Tuttle Jr. (April 5, 1915 – June 9, 1993) was an American publisher and book dealer who was internationally recognized for his contributions to understanding between the English- and Japanese-speaking worlds.Ingleton, N. (1993)Ob ...

(1915–1993), awarded 1983 *

Elizabeth Gray Vining Elizabeth Janet Gray Vining (October 6, 1902 – November 27, 1999) was an American professional librarian and author who tutored Emperor Akihito of Japan in English while he was crown prince. She was also a noted author, whose children's book ...

(1902–1999), awarded 1950 *

Gordon Warner Gordon Warner (1913 – March 4, 2010) was an American one-legged swordsman who became the highest-ranked westerner in the Japanese martial arts, Japanese martial art of kendo. He was also a world-record-holding breaststroke swimmer, a decorated ...

(1913–2010), awarded 2001 * The Rt Rev Herbert Welch (1862–1969), awarded 1928 *

Charles Burnett Wilson Charles Burnett "C.B." Wilson (4 July 1850 – 12 September 1926) was a British and Tahitian superintendent of the water works, fire chief under King Kalākaua, and Marshal of the Kingdom under Queen Liliuokalani. Wilson was also the father of Jo ...

(1850–1926), awarded 1892 * Arthur Young (1907–1979)

4th class, Gold Rays with Rosette

Ralph D. Dwyer, Jr. Ralph (pronounced ; or ,) is a male given name of English, Scottish and Irish origin, derived from the Old English ''Rædwulf'' and Radulf, cognate with the Old Norse ''Raðulfr'' (''rað'' "counsel" and ''ulfr'' "wolf"). The most common forms ...

, awarded 1973 * Floyd Schmoe, awarded 1988 *

Keiko Fukuda was a Japanese American martial artist. She was the highest-ranked female judoka in history, holding the rank of 9th ''dan'' from the Kodokan (2006), and 10th ''dan'' from USA Judo (July 2011) and from the United States Judo Federation (USJF) (S ...

, awarded 1990Sullivan, K. (2003)
A lifetime of Judo: 90 year old Keiko Fukuda, the martial art's highest-ranked woman, still goes to the mat for her Bay Area students
, judoinfo.com, reproduced from the ''San Francisco Chronicle'', 17 October 2003; retrieved 25 April 2010. * John Gillett, awarded 1994 *

Beate Sirota Gordon Beate Sirota Gordon (; October 25, 1923 – December 30, 2012) was an Austrian-born American performing arts presenter and women's rights advocate. She was the former Performing Arts Director of the Japan Society and the Asia Society and was ...

, awarded 1998 *

Edbert Ansgar Hewett Edbert Ansgar Hewett, (5 September 1860 – 24 November 1915) was a prominent British merchant in Hong Kong and China and member of the Executive Council and Legislative Council of Hong Kong. Family and early life Hewett was born on 5 Septem ...

(1860–1915), awarded 1901 *

Herbert Keppler Herbert "Burt" Keppler (April 21, 1925 – January 4, 2008) was an American photographer, journalist, author and consultant. His career spanned 57 years, including 37 at ''Modern Photography'' and two decades at ''Popular Photography''. He wr ...

, awarded 2002 * Helmut Laumer, awarded 2002 *

Yukiko Maki Yukiko Maki (1902 – October 18, 1989), born Yukiko Domoto, was a Japanese educator. In 1976 she was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Fourth Class, for her work in international exchange. Early life Yukiko Domoto was from Oakland, ...

(1902–1989), awarded 1976 *

Rofū Miki (23 June 1889 – 29 December 1964), better known by his pen name , was a Japanese poet, children's book author and essayist. He is considered a significant representative of Japanese symbolism. Life file:Rofu Miki House01n4592.jpg, alt=Rofū ...

(1889–1964), awarded 1965 *

Hidetaka Nishiyama was a prominent Japanese Grandmaster (martial arts), master of Shotokan karate.Junnosuke Ofusa Junnosuke Ofusa (1908–1994) was the first journalist ever to receive Japan's Order of the Sacred Treasure. He was presented with the Fourth Class Order of the Sacred Treasure in a ceremony at the Foreign Ministry for "the service he has rendered ...

(1908–1994), awarded 1982 * Agnes Mitsue Niyekawa (1924–2012), awarded 1998 *

Chōshin Chibana was an Okinawan martial artist who developed Shorin-ryū karate based on what he had learned from Ankō Itosu. He was the last of the pre-World War karate masters, also called the "Last Warrior of Shuri" He was the first to establish a Japa ...

, awarded 1968 *

Richard Ponsonby-Fane Richard Arthur Brabazon Ponsonby-Fane (8 January 1878 – 10 December 1937) was a British academic, author, specialist of Shinto and Japanologist. Early years Richard Arthur Brabazon Ponsonby was born at Gravesend on the south bank of the Tham ...

(1878–1937), awarded 1921 * The Rev.

Walter Weston Walter Weston (25 December 1861 – 27 March 1940), was an English clergyman and Anglican missionary who helped popularise recreational mountaineering in Japan at the turn of the 20th century. Background and early life Weston was born 25 Dece ...

, awarded 1937 * Shozo Sato, awarded 2004 * Oskar Ritter und Edler von Xylander *

Serizawa Keisuke was a Japanese textile designer. In 1956, he was designated as a Living National Treasure by the Japanese government for his ''katazome'' stencil dyeing technique. A leading member of the ''mingei'' movement founded by Yanagi Sōetsu, Serizawa ...

(1895–1984) * Ir

Sukarno Sukarno). (; born Koesno Sosrodihardjo, ; 6 June 1901 – 21 June 1970) was an Indonesian statesman, orator, revolutionary, and nationalist who was the first president of Indonesia, serving from 1945 to 1967. Sukarno was the leader of ...

(1901–1970) * Thomas Masuda (1906–1986) * Masaru Funai, awarded 2001 *

Masao Takahashi Masao Takahashi (June 24, 1929 – February 14, 2020) was a Canadian judoka, author, coach, and founder of the Takahashi School of Martial Arts (Est. 1969) in Ottawa, Ontario. He was involved in judo for more than 70 years, and was ranked ''hachi ...

, awarded 2002 * The Rev. Jean-Baptist Gaschy (1875–1955), awarded 1954 * Mildred Ruth Brown, awarded 1988 * Andrew Tsubaki (1931–2009), awarded 2007 * Charlotte Burgis DeForest (1879–1973), awarded 1950 * Verne Dallas Dusenbery (1885-1978), awarded 1968 * Thomas Tozaburo Sashihara (1900–1974), awarded 15 December 1970 * Wray Taylor (1853–1910), awarded 1892 * Noriko Kamakura, awarded 2022On page 17 in PDF listing attached to Retrieved 2 June 2022. * (1925–2021), awarded 1998

5th class, Gold and Silver Rays

Alfred M Burke Alfred may refer to: Arts and entertainment *'' Alfred J. Kwak'', Dutch-German-Japanese anime television series * ''Alfred'' (Arne opera), a 1740 masque by Thomas Arne * ''Alfred'' (Dvořák), an 1870 opera by Antonín Dvořák *"Alfred (Interl ...

, awarded 2012 * On Chuil, member of the suite of the Korean Crown Prince, awarded 1908 * Hester Ferreira, awarded 1997 * Mabel Francis (1880–1975), awarded 1962 *

Kumaji Furuya Kumaji Furuya (February 22, 1899 – November 4, 1977) was a Japanese businessman who worked in Hawaii. He started the Fuji Furniture store in Aala, and created Hawaii's first Japanese-language radio program. His penname was Suikei. Early life F ...

(1899–1977), awarded 1968 * George Edward Luckman Gauntlett (1868–1956) * Capt. W.W. Greene, awarded before March 1908 * Seikan Higa, awarded 1968 *

Friedrich Hirzebruch Friedrich Ernst Peter Hirzebruch ForMemRS (17 October 1927 – 27 May 2012) was a German mathematician, working in the fields of topology, complex manifolds and algebraic geometry, and a leading figure in his generation. He has been described as ...

, awarded 1996 *

Janak Jeevantha Bandaranayake Janaka is a character who appears in the Hindu epic Ramayana. He is an ancient Hindu king of Videha, which was located in the Mithila region. His name at birth was Sīradhvaja, and he had a brother named Kushadhvaja. His father's name was Hrasva ...

, awarded in 2020 * Thomas Masuda (1906–1986) *

John Mittwer John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

(1907–1996), awarded 1977 *

Chiura Obata was a well-known Japanese-American artist and popular art teacher. A self-described "roughneck", Obata went to the United States in 1903, at age 17. After initially working as an illustrator and commercial decorator, he had a successful career a ...

(1885–1975) *

Azalia Emma Peet Azalia Emma Peet (September 3, 1887 – September 21, 1973) was an American missionary educator in Japan. During World War II, she was a "lone dissenter", "one of the very few white Americans" to speak out against the incarceration of Japanese ...

(1887–1973), awarded 1953 * Yi Pomik, member of the suite of the Korean Crown Prince, awarded 1908 * Miki Saito, Japanese Consul General to Hawaii, awarded bef Nov 1905 * Yoshio Senda, Hon. LL.D. (1922–2009), awarded 2008 *

Chiune Sugihara was a Japanese diplomat who served as vice-consul for the Japanese Empire in Kaunas, Lithuania. During the Second World War, Sugihara helped thousands of Jews flee Europe by issuing transit visas to them so that they could travel through Japan ...

(1900–1986), awarded 1944 * Yoshio Tamiya (1905–1988), awarded 1976 *

Tetsuo Toyama was an Okinawan journalist. Biography Toyama was born on Ikei Island in Okinawa, Japan on April 8, 1883. He was recruited in the Japanese military in 1904 and served in Manchuria during the Russo-Japanese war. He was discharged after he suffered ...

, awarded 1968 * Fujitaro Kubota (1879–1973)

6th class, Silver Rays

* Capt. Philip Going, approx 1905 *

Chinyei Kinjo Chinyei Kinjo (金城珍栄)(December 21, 1899 March 3, 1987) was an Okinawan journalist. He ran the '' Yoen jiho'' for most of its 49-year history. Early life Kinjo was born in Naha, Okinawa on December 21, 1899. He was the son of Chinzen Kin ...

, 1968 * Chozaburo Kusumoto, 1906 *

Hannah Riddell Hannah Riddell (1855–1932) was an English woman who devoted her life to the care of patients with leprosy in Japan. Life Early life and her determination Hannah Riddell was born in 1855 in Barnet, then a village to the North of London. Her f ...

, (1855–1932) awarded 1924 * Mary Cornwall Legh (1857–1941), awarded 1939 * Ted Tsukiyama (1920–2019) awarded 2001 * His Majesty Ariki Tuheitia of New Zealand, awarded 2015 * Ko Wichun, member of the suite of the Korean Crown Prince, awarded 1908 * Capt. Mitsuo Matsumoto (Japanese: 松元三男), (1919-2004), officer of the Japanese Imperial Army, awarded 1944 *Eijiro Iwamura, 1975

7th class: abolished

While established with the original induction of the First 6 classes, Class 7 has never been issued or given an official designation or design. Officially the Medal and its designation were abolished in 2003; there are no known recipients or issuances of this Medal in its original design from 1887.

8th class: abolished

While established with the original induction of the First 6 classes, Class 8 has never been issued or designated a design, like Class 7 Before it. Officially the Medal and its designation were abolished in 2003; there are no known recipients or issuances of this Medal in its original design from 1887.

General Class

* Jackson Bailey, awarded 1988 *

Faubion Bowers Faubion Bowers (January 29, 1917 – November 17, 1999) was an American academic and writer in the area of Asian Studies, especially Japanese theatre. He also wrote the first full-length biography of Russian composer Alexander Scriabin. During t ...

Ernesto Burzagli Ernesto Burzagli (7 June 1873 – 13 September 1944) was a prominent figure in the Kingdom of Italy during the early 20th century. During a lifetime career in the Italian Royal Navy ('' Regia Marina Italiana''), he rose to the rank of Admiral a ...

(1873–1944), awarded 1906 * Winfield Scott Chaplin (1847–1918), awarded 1882 *

George Ramsay Cook George Ramsay Cook (28 November 1931 – 14 July 2016) was a Canadian historian and general editor of the ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography''. He was professor of history at the University of Toronto, 1958–1968; York University, 1969–1 ...

, awarded 1994 *

David Culver David Michael Culver, (December 5, 1924 – February 6, 2017) was a Canadians, Canadian businessman and former Chairman and CEO of Alcan, Alcan Aluminum Limited, from 1979 to 1989. Early life Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Culver attended Selwyn Ho ...

Dorothy DeLay Dorothy DeLay (March 31, 1917 – March 24, 2002) was an American violin instructor, primarily at the Juilliard School, Sarah Lawrence College, and the University of Cincinnati. Life Dorothy DeLay was born on March 31, 1917, in Medicine Lodg ...

* Mamadou Diarra, awarded 1988 (Order with sunburst) * Robert Lawrence Eichelberger *

Yoshikawa Eiji was a Japanese historical novelist. Among his best-known novels are revisions of older classics. He was mainly influenced by classics such as ''The Tale of the Heike'', ''Tale of Genji'', ''Water Margin'' and ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'', m ...

, awarded 1962 *

Anton Geesink Antonius Johannes Geesink (6 April 1934 – 27 August 2010) was a Dutch people, Dutch List of judoka#Highest grades, 10th dan judoka. He was the first non-Japanese judoka to win gold at the World Judo Championship, a feat he accomplished in 1961 ...

L'Harmattan web site
; accessed 2 July 2014 *

John Whitney Hall John Whitney Hall (September 13, 1916 – October 21, 1997),"John Whitney Hall papers, 1930–1999", Yale University Library was an American historian of Japan who specialized in premodern Japanese history. His life work was recognized by the Japane ...

Heinrich Hertz Heinrich Rudolf Hertz ( ; ; 22 February 1857 – 1 January 1894) was a German physicist who first conclusively proved the existence of the electromagnetic waves predicted by James Clerk Maxwell's Maxwell's equations, equations of electrom ...

Marcel Junod Marcel Junod (14 May 1904 – 16 June 1961) was a Swiss medical doctor and one of the most accomplished field delegates in the history of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). After medical school and a short position as a surgeo ...

, awarded 1961 * Takahira Kogoro (1854–1926) *

Kume Kunitake was a historian in Meiji and Taishō period Japan. He had a son, Kume Keiichirō, who was a noted painter. Biography Kume was born in Saga Domain, Hizen (present-day Saga Prefecture), and was active in attempting to assist the administrativ ...

, awarded 1889 *

Tokubei Kuroda was a Japanese scientist and academic. He is best known as a pioneering taxonomist and malacologist specializing in Japanese marine and terrestrial Mollusca. Early life Kuroda was born at Fukura (now Nandan-cho in Minami-Awaji-Shi) on the is ...

(1886–1987), awarded 1939 *

Tetsuko Kuroyanagi is a Japanese actress, voice actress, tarento, World Wide Fund for Nature advisor, and Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. She is well known for her charitable works, and is considered one of the first Japanese celebrities to achieve international re ...

, awarded 2003 *

Toshirō Mifune was a Japanese actor who appeared in over 150 feature films. He is best known for his 16-film collaboration (1948–1965) with Akira Kurosawa in such works as ''Rashomon'', ''Seven Samurai'', ''The Hidden Fortress'', ''Throne of Blood'', and '' ...

, awarded 1993 (Order with gold ribbon) * Lawrence Olson, awarded 1987 *

Fusakichi Omori was a pioneer Japanese seismologist, second chairman of seismology at the Imperial University of Tokyo and president of the Japanese Imperial Earthquake Investigation Committee. Omori is also known for his observation describing the aftersho ...

, awarded 1928 *

Jean-Jacques Origas Jean-Jacques Origas (1937–2003) was a French academic with expertise in Japanese literature and art. He was a Japanologist, best known more for giving his knowledge to his students rather than for publishing books.Keene, Donald. (2008) ''Chronic ...

, awarded 1998 * John Roderick, awarded 1985 *

Renato Ruggiero Renato Ruggiero (9 April 1930 – 4 August 2013) was an Italian diplomat and politician. He was Director-General of the World Trade Organization from 1995 to 1999 and briefly served as Italy's Foreign Minister in 2001. Biography Born in Naples ...

Jack Seward John Neil Seward Jr. (October 11, 1924 – November 10, 2010) was a World War II veteran who was assigned to military intelligence in 1941 because of his knowledge of Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an is ...

, awarded 1986 * Edmund Charles Wyldbore Smith (1877–1938) *

Kenjiro Takayanagi was a Japanese engineer and a pioneer in the development of television. Although he failed to gain much recognition in the West, he built the world's first all-electronic television receiver, and is referred to as "the father of Japanese televisi ...

, awarded 1989 *

Tomoyuki Tanaka was a Japanese film producer. He is best known for co-creating the ''Godzilla'' franchise and its associated spin-offs. Early life Tanaka was born on April 26, 1910, in Kashiwara, Osaka. As a child, he would often walk miles to the nearest th ...

, awarded 1981 *

Eiji Tsuburaya was a Japanese special effects director and cinematographer. Known as the he worked on 250 feature films in a career spanning 50 years. He is regarded as one of the co-creators of the ''Godzilla'' series, as well as the main creator of the ' ...

, awarded 1970 *

Yosh Uchida Yoshihiro Uchida (born April 1, 1920), better known as Yosh Uchida, is an American judo coach, businessman, entrepreneur, and educator who is best known for his contributions to judo. Uchida has been the head judo coach at San Jose State Univers ...

, awarded 1986. *

Morihei Ueshiba was a Japanese martial artist and founder of the martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher/Old Teacher (old as opposed to ''waka (young) sensei'')". The son of a landowner from Tanabe, Ueshiba st ...

(1883–1969) * J.R. Wasson (1855–1913), awarded 1874"A Victory for the Chinese; Japanese Driven with Heavy Loss from Ping-yang"
, ''The New York Times'', 22 August 1894. * Carmen Blacker (1924–2009)

Gallery

File:Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class, (Japan decoration) - medal closeup.JPG, Order of the Sacred Treasure (class 3) File:Orders of the Sacred Treasure class5.JPG, Order of the Sacred Treasure (class 5) File:Orders of the Sacred Treasure class6-010.JPG, Order of the Sacred Treasure (class 6) File:Order of the Sacred Treasure Ribbon.png, Ribbon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure – old type

References

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. * Rossiter, Johnson, ed. (1904). ''The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans'', Vol. II. Boston: The Biographical Societ
...Click link for digitized, full text copy of this book
* ''Kenkyusha's New Japanese-English Dictionary'', Kenkyusha Limited, Tokyo 1991,

External links

Japan Mint The is an Independent Administrative Institution of the Japanese government, responsible for producing and circulating the coins of Japan. The agency has its head office in Osaka with branches in Saitama and Hiroshima. The Japan Mint does not pr ...

Production Process
{{DEFAULTSORT:Order Of The Sacred Treasure Awards established in 1888 Sacred Treasure, Order of the 1888 establishments in Japan *

Classes

Insignia

After the 2003 reform

Selected recipients

1st class, Grand Cordon

2nd class, Gold and Silver Star

3rd class, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon

4th class, Gold Rays with Rosette

5th class, Gold and Silver Rays

6th class, Silver Rays

7th class: abolished

8th class: abolished

General Class

Gallery

See also

References

Sources

External links