I picked this up out of a value bin at the coin shop. I'm assuming it's some kind of Japanese military medal. I thought World War II at first but I believe I see the date Taisho 9 (1920). There's other numbers on it too but I don't know how to read it. I'm just curious what it is. I think it's bronze.
If no one can read this I'd use the google translate where you can take a picture and it'll translate but, I believe you're right and this is a medal for the Japanese military I just tried putting it through one "picture translation" and it got some text but it is only recognized in Chinese and it says "open your eyes wide" I think it's broken Only parts recognized (Chinese) (Japanese) I think we need an expert lol.
Thanks for the attempt but I don't think Google will be able to figure this out for me. I'm not even sure if you read it down the columns or across the rows.
Courtesy of ChatGPT: "The images feature Japanese text. Here is the translation: First image: 紀念 (kinen) - Commemoration 昭和三十年六月 (Showa sanjuu nen roku gatsu) - June of the 30th year of Showa (1955) 勝利 (shouri) - Victory 戦士 (senshi) - Warrior Second image: 戦傷病者 (senshou byousha) - War-wounded and sick person 慰霊 (irei) - Consolation of spirits 安全 (anzen) - Safety 福祉 (fukushi) - Welfare These inscriptions are likely related to a commemorative medallion for Japanese war veterans, possibly from an event or association related to the welfare and remembrance of those affected by war."
Thanks, that does give some more insight. The 1955 year is strange since I saw 1920. Maybe 35th anniversary?
Similar The obverse is decorated with the IJA star, rifle, sword and flag. The center banner reads TOKUBETSU DAIENSHUU KINEN SHOU (Special Grand Maneuvers Commemoration Medal). The reverse reads SANKA (Participants), KONOE SHIDAN, DAI 1 SHIDAN, DAI 2 SHIDAN, DAI 8 SHIDAN, DAI 13 SHIDAN, DAI 14 SHIDAN, DAI 15 SHIDAN (Imperial Guards, 1st, 2nd, 8th, 13th, 14th & 15th Divisions) and TAISHO 7 NEN (1918)
You are correct on the date, it's 大正九年 "Taisho kyuu nen" or 1920. This dates back to when Japanese read right to left, which changed sometime around 1954, I believe. the top characters are 参加 or "Sanka" read right to left (it looked like Katakana at first and it threw me). The rows down the reverse show "Shidans" or "Divisions" 第十八師團 - 18th Shidan 第十二師團 - 12th Shidan 第六師團 - 6th Shidan Some of the Kanji may also be archaic as well, which might make it harder to read, even for ChatGPT or Google Translate. I think 團 may be archaic and now written as 団. The highly stylized characters on the observe would take far longer to figure out, but they do look identical to the other medal posted: 特別大演習記念章 which gave me a translation of "special grand exercise memorial chapter." If I search in Japanese by those characters I see pages that describe Army memorial medals, i.e., "Army Special Exercise Commemorative Medal."
