Defensive memorial cordon
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The Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon, also called the Self-Defense Commemorative Ribbon or the Defensive Memorial Cordon, (Japanese:防衛記念章) is the decoration for officers in the
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 ...
. Officials may wear it on their uniforms while in active service. They are only cordons like the Unit Awards and the Unit Citations of
United States Armed Forces The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is the ...
. The appearance of the Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbons is similar to ribbon bars for
military decorations Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ...
. The defensive memorial cordon is a 'rectangular-shaped memorial souvenir' for service career, participation of training in overseas, and participation in international peacekeeping and assistance operations.


History


Before establishment

After
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, the standard for conferment of a decoration was changed and JSDF officials in active service were excluded from the now-civilian orders and decorations. In addition, the JSDF could not gain opportunity to participate battle because it is prohibited by Chapter 9 of the
Constitution of Japan The Constitution of Japan (Shinjitai: , Kyūjitai: , Hepburn: ) is the constitution of Japan and the supreme law in the state. Written primarily by American civilian officials working under the Allied occupation of Japan, the constitution r ...
.  Just after the JSDF was established in 1954, there were some officials who had
military decorations Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ...
and ribbon bars awarded by
Imperial Japanese Army The was the official ground-based armed force of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945. It was controlled by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office and the Ministry of the Army, both of which were nominally subordinate to the Emperor o ...
, that they wore in formal ceremony. They retired as time went on, and due to the new government, were issued no longer. For this reason, the officers in the JSDF in the 1970s had to participate in international meetings without any domestic decorations.


Establishment

On April 1, 1982, the system for Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbons was established to keep balance of looking between Japanese and foreign servicemen. When the system for Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbons was established, there were only 15 types of ribbon bars, unlike past decorations the ribbon bars are only used by officers of the JSDF.


Requirements

The following Self-Defense Force officers in active service are allowed to wear the Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon: #Officers who receive an official commendation by the
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 ...
#Officers who serve duties about the concerned awarding at the awarded institutions ( National Defense Academy,
National Defense Medical College The is Japan's six-year university-level military academy under control of the Ministry of Defense whose objectives are to train future military officers who are also medical doctors and current military doctors. Students graduate with an adva ...
, National Institute for Defense Studies,
Technical Research and Development Institute Technical may refer to: * Technical (vehicle), an improvised fighting vehicle * Technical analysis, a discipline for forecasting the future direction of prices through the study of past market data * Technical drawing, showing how something is co ...
, Equipment Procurement and Construction Office, the military units, the military institutions, a branch offices of Equipment office) #Officers who are commanders of units and commands or other managerial positions established by the
Minister of Defense A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in som ...
. #Officers who serve duties at the internal Subdivisions (Internal Subdivisions in Ministry of Defense, Section of the Joint Staffs, Defense Intelligence Headquarters, Ground Staff Office, Maritime Staff Office, Air Staff Office, Technical Research and Development Institute, Equipment Procurement and Construction Office, Inspector General's Office of Legal Compliance) #Long serving officers. In this case, the officials who were awarded the prize of perfect attendance. #Officers who work at the diplomatic missions overseas, or who were engaged duties about procurement by onerous assistance or other overseas activities as may be ordered. #Officers who participate in overseas training missions and exercises or work for transporting to the
South Pole The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole, Terrestrial South Pole or 90th Parallel South, is one of the two points where Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on Earth and lies antipod ...
. #Officers who participate in international cooperation activities, such as peacekeeping operations, disaster relief and joint training exercises with foreign armed forces. #Officers who participate in national events or cooperating work of sports competitions which are regulated in Self-Defense Forces Act Chapter 126-12 (
Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a var ...
,
Asian Games The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation (AGF) from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until t ...
, National Sports Festival,
FIFA World Cup The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the ' ( FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The tournament ha ...
, etc.) as may be directed by General Headquarters, JSDF


Types of Service Ribbons

There are today 41 ribbon bars. When the system for the Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbons was established, there were only 15 ribbon. They must be worn by ascending order. Male officials wear three ribbon bars for each line, and female officials wear two ribbon bars for each line. If the foreign orders and/or decorations are awarded to officers, these take precedence over the ribbon bars and are required to be placed above them. Some ribbon bars (marked as grey) still exist, but it is impossible to meet their requirements as either the organizations in question have been abolished or the missions have been finished.


Rules for multiple awardees

If the same ribbon bars are to be awarded for further actions officers qualified to receive them have to put gold or silver
cherry blossom A cherry blossom, also known as Japanese cherry or sakura, is a flower of many trees of genus ''Prunus'' or ''Prunus'' subg. ''Cerasus''. They are common species in East Asia, including China, Korea and especially in Japan. They generally ...
s on the ribbon bars. *1 silver
cherry blossom A cherry blossom, also known as Japanese cherry or sakura, is a flower of many trees of genus ''Prunus'' or ''Prunus'' subg. ''Cerasus''. They are common species in East Asia, including China, Korea and especially in Japan. They generally ...
for 2 ribbons. *1 gold cherry blossom for 3 cordons. *2 silver cherry blossoms for 4 cordons. *2 gold cherry blossoms for more than 4 cordons. File:Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 12 & silver cherry blossom (sample).svg, 1 silver cherry blossom on 12th ribbon File:Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 12 & silver cherry blossom2 (sample).svg, 2 silver cherry blossom on 12th ribbon


Notes


References


External links


Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon
{{Decorations by country Military awards and decorations of Japan