Japanese MEDALS w DOCUMENTS Same Soldier! KIA Engineer

A set of medals and documents awarded to a single KIA soldier from Imperial Japan. Two of the later documents show that this IJA engineer was killed in action. The lot includes the following:

1. 1939 China War Medal Dispatch Commemorative medal with award document dated Showa 13 [1938], October 17. NOTE: This is an instance of a medal being awarded BEFORE the actual medal was created!!! This is not an error. As shown below, the date of this award is the date of the soldier's death. So it was awarded posthumously and backdated to the day he died.

2. 8th Class Order of the Rising Sun medal with award document also dated Showa 13 [1938], October 17.

3. A cased KIA Next-of-Kin Cherry Blossom badge.

4. Two matching Yasukuni Shrine war dead spirit enshrinement ceremony badges. Given to next-of-kin who attend the ceremony.

5. Uncased Red Cross membership medal with pin rosette.

6. Unknown star-shaped hat or collar badge.        7. IJA soldier handbook (see below for details).   

8. Some sort of accordion-style book with a few stamps.

9. China Incident cash award document dated Showa 13 [1938], October 17. These usually accompanied the China Incident medal.

10. Military Reservist document that shows the soldier attended reservist classes of some sort. Dated Showa 5 [1930], October 13.

11. Right-wing militant Shoubu-kai group document that shows the soldier attended military education classes of some sort. Dated Showa 8 [1933], April 25.

The next two documents show that this engineer was killed in action.

12. Army Ministry document that shows the soldier's father received a cash payment of 1100 yen upon his son's death. Dated Showa 14 [1939], May 1.

13. Document from the Governor of Kyoto showing that upon the war death of this engineer, his next-of-kin received a box of candy and a songbook [!!]. Dated Showa 14 [1939], August 12.

An excellent set, all 100% original (not thrown together) and all awarded to an IJA Engineer named Takaya Kichisaburou.

Here is some of the information in his handbook: First, he was from Kyoto (full address in the book) and was born in Meiji 43 [1910]. His highest rank was an Engineer 1st Class Private. In 1931 he was attached to the 16th Engineer Battalion and stationed in Manchuria. In 1937 he was attached to the Hino 44th Company Field Communications Unit. He participated in battles at Shanghai, Suzhou Creek [Wusong River], the invasion of Nanking [i.e., Rape of Nanking], among others. It says that he was involved in the patroling of Nanking as well.

A fairly detailed account of his death is included: In October he began to have stomach cramps, diarrhea, and a high fever. He was taken to the military hospital on 10/12 and he died there on October 17, 1938. He was diagnosed with malaria.

Note that the two medals he received (included in this group) were given on that exact day, so they were posthumous awards, though that is not indicated on either award document.

Read about Japanese military sake cups here: http://www.imperialjapansakecups.com/

Read more about Japanese medals here: http://p2.hostingprod.com/@imperialjapanmedalsandbadges.com/

*PLEASE NOTE* I ship as soon as payment is received. However, if you opt for regular airmail, I cannot accept responsibility for lost packages or damaged goods. I pack well to reduce the chance of damage, but sometimes the boxes are handled roughly. Although EMS delivery is a little expensive, it is reliable and quite speedy.

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