Japan Medals

harasha

Does anyone have a clue about what these commemorate?

Medal 1

Medal 2

(and by the way, thanks to Madame for a helpful search link)

lordmarcovan

Nope, but I get a decent reading on the Cool-o-meter... about 2.5 kilofonzies.

satootoko

When the Beautiful Bride returns in a couple of hours I'll ask her to translate the legends.

satootoko

The reverse of the building is dated September, 1926 (Taisho 15, 9th month) across the top. The next line identifies some type of anniversary, but the stylized characters used are very difficult to read, and the BB isn't sure of exactly what anniversary it is. The large characters at the bottom are the name of a company, Monkosha, and the smaller characters above it are not readable.

On the other piece the large single character means "Award". From top to bottom the other side translates as "Great Japan Ink Brush Calligraphy ______."

Sorry, but that's the best the BB can do.

Where's Shironiichan? He does better at this type of character reading than the BB does.

shirohniichan

Dang-- my browser at work won't show the photos.

Zoins

<< <i>Dang-- my browser at work won't show the photos. >>

Would you like them via email attachment?

clarkbar04

Looks like that 2nd one could hurt you if not carefully handled.

sumnom

The first medal commemorates the new construction (I think) of the "Myriad Fortune" Company, which is identified as a joint stock company (the tiny little letters above the name of the company). I don't know the Japanese reading but something like "man ko sha," no? (10,000 good fortunes company) Manhaengsa in Korean, but that is not relevant...

sumnom

The second medal is a calligraphy prize, I think. The double phoenix side reads "prize." The other side reads "Imperial Japanese Calligraphy Institute." Or, if you prefer, "The Calligraphy Institute of the Great Japanese Empire."

sumnom

The calligraphy medal has a little seal above the double pheonix. I cannot read it.

satootoko

<< <i> I don't know the Japanese reading but something like "man ko sha," no? (10,000 good fortunes company) >>

That's the way the Beautiful
Bride read it Josh.

As I mentioned, she couldn't make out the "Institute" part of the other one.

sumnom

Well, I'm not to be trusted when it comes to Japanese readings of Chinese characters.

sumnom

ttt

sumnom

I have been looking more into the pronounciation of the company name. I found the name in Morohashi's Dai Kanwa Jiten (Vol 9, p. 741) and I think the reading is "Bankosha."

sumnom

ttt for bob.