ORDER OF THE SACRED TREASURES

(Redirected from Order of the Sacred Treasure)
The is a Japanese Order (decoration), established on January 4, 1888 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. It is awarded in 8 classes (from 8th to 1st, in ascending order of importance). Generally awarded for long and/or meritorious service, and considered to be the lowest of the Japanese orders of merit (''hosho'').
Originally a male-only decoration, the order has been made available to women since 1919; it is awarded for both civil and military merit, though of a lesser degree than that required for the conferment of the Order of the Rising Sun. Unlike its European counterparts, the order may be conferred posthumously.

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; and the Emperor's personal ''Sword''.
The ''badge'' for the ''first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth classes'' is a Maltese cross, in gilt (1st, 3rd and 4th classes), gilt and silver (5th class) and silver (6th class), with white enamelled rays (representing the sword). The central disc is blue, bearing an eight-pointed silver star (representing the mirror), surrounded by a wreath with red-enamelled dots (representing the jewel). The badge is suspended on a ribbon in light blue with a yellow stripe near the border, worn as a sash on the right shoulder by the 1st class, as a necklet by males of the 3rd class, on the left chest (the ribbon folded into a triangle) by the 4th to 6th classes (with a rosette for the 4th class). For ladies of the 3rd to 6th classes, the ribbon is in the form of a bow worn on the left shoulder (with a rosette for the 4th class).
The ''star'' for the ''first and second classes'' is similar to the badge as described above, but effectively with ''two'' sets of Maltese cross, one in gilt and one placed diagonally in silver. It is worn on the left chest by the 1st class, on the right chest (without any other insignia) by the 2nd class.
The ''badge'' of the ''seventh and eighth classes'' is an eight-pointed silver medal, partially gilded for the 7th class, with representations of just the mirror and the jewel. The badge is suspended on a ribbon, again in light blue with a yellow stripe near the border, worn by men on the left chest (the ribbon folded into a triangle). For ladies, the ribbon is in the form of a bow worn on the left shoulder.

Contents

The order after the 2003 reform

See also

Known recipients

References

External link

The order 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 leaves (not chrysanthemum leaves as the Decoration Bureau page claims).

See also

★ Order of the Chrysanthemum

★ Order of the Rising Sun

★ Order of the Precious Crown

★ Order of the Golden Kite

★ Order of Culture

★ Medals of Honor (Japan)

Known recipients

★ '1st class':

★
★ Otto Abetz

★
★ Daniel Boorstein^[1]

★
★ Eliezer Batista da Silva

★
★ James McNaughton Hester^[2]

★
★ Masaru Ibuka

★
★ Akio Morita

★ '2nd class':

★
★ Herbert W. Armstrong

★
★ W. Edwards Deming

★
★ Hugh Patrick

★
★ RADM William H. Rogers USN

★
★ Eugene P. Wilkinson^[3]

★ '3rd class':

★
★ Ifukube Akira

★
★ Douglas Greenwald^[4]

★
★ Otsuma Kotaka

★
★ Kokichi Mikimoto

★
★ Genzō Murakami

★
★ Thomas Noguchi

★
★ Leonard Pronko

★
★ Eric Gascoigne Robinson

★
★ Tadahiro Sekimoto

★
★ Herbert Cyril Thacker

★
★ Charles Egbert Tuttle

★
★ Arthur Young

★ '4th class':

★
★ Junnosuke Ofusa^[5]

★ '5th class':

★
★ Fujitaro Kubota

★ '6th class':

★
★ Fukuyoshi Kanai

★ '''Class unknown''':

★
★ Tristan Beplat^[6]

★
★ Faubion Bowers^[7]

★
★ Dorothy DeLay^[8]

★
★ John Whitney Hall^[9]

★
★ Nakamura Utaemon VI^[10]

★
★ Isamu Noguchi^[11]

★
★ Olson, Lawrence^[12]

★
★ Okamura, Frank^[13]

★
★ Carl Shoup^[14]

★
★ Kenjiro Takayanagi^[15]

★
★ Yosh Uchida

References

1. King, Wayne and Warren Weaver Jr. "Briefing: Boorstin and the Emperor," ''New York Times,'' May 2, 1986.
2. Krebs, Alvin. "Notes on People: Hester Honored," ''New York Times,'' Janaury 15, 1981.
3. VADM Eugene P. "Dennis" Wilkinson (retired)
4. Canedy, Dana. "Douglas Greenwald, 83, Editor And Economist for McGraw-Hill." ''New York Times.'' January 18, 1997.
5. Bird, David and Robert McG. Thomas Jr. "Notes on People: Japanese Writer for Times Decorated by Hirohito," ''New York Times,'' May 13, 1982.
6. Gilpin, Kenneth. "Tristan E. Beplat, 85, Banker Who Aided Japan After War." ''New York Times.'' December 3, 1997.
7. Pace, Eric. "Faubion Bowers, 82, Defender Of Kabuki in Occupied Japan." ''New York Times.'' November 22, 1999.
8. Van Gelder, Laurence. "Footlights: Honor Bound." ''New York Times.'' November 4, 1998.
9. Scott, Janny. "John W. Hall, Historian of Japan, Dies at 81." ''New York Times.'' October 27, 1997.
10. Strom, Stephanie. ''Nakamura Utaemon VI, 84, International Star of Kabuki." ''New York Times.'' April 4, 2001.
11. Brenson, Michael. "Isamu Noguchi, the Sculptor, Dies at 84." ''New York Times.'' December 31, 1988.
12. "Lawrence Olson, 73, An Expert on Japan." ''New York Times.'' April 2, 1992.
13. Lavietes, Stuart. "Frank Okamura, Bonsai Expert, Is Dead at 94." ''New York Times.'' January 14, 2006.
14. Johnston, David Cay. "Carl S. Shoup, 97; Shaped Japan's Tax Code." ''New York Times.'' March 31, 2000.
15. "Kenjiro Takayanagi, Electrical Engineer, 91" (AP). ''New York Times,'' July 25, 1990.


★ Orders and Medals of Japan and Associated States, , James W., Peterson, Orders and Medals Society of America, ,

External link

★ Decoration Bureau page