Japanese 1937-1945 China “Incident” (Special operation…) War Medal

Japanese 1937-1945 China “Incident” (Special operation…) War Medal

Established in 1939 and awarded to Japanese soldiers departing for service in the undeclared war against China (hence, “incident”). The bronze medal features, to its obverse, the mythical giant crow “yata-no-karasu,” flanked by two Rising Sun flags (for the Army and Navy), whose upwardly-stretched wings encompass a sixteen-petal Imperial Chrysanthemum. To its reverse are three stylized mountains above, and stylized water beneath, a cloud bank, against which is a row of four kanji characters, translating to “China Incident.” The swiveling hanger connected to the top of the medal is connected to a swiveling bar, through which the ribbon passes. To the face of the bar is embossed a row of four kanji characters, translating to “War Medal.” The watered silk ribbon has a vertical red stripe to its center, flanked by wider pink stripes, then even wider stripes in yellow, then narrow light blue, and, to its outside edges, narrow navy blue stripes. An elongated, vertical alloy hook is to its top, which folds down and mates with an alloy eye sewn near the base of its reverse. This medal was awarded until the summer of 1945, and was abolished in 1946.

Complete example with a very nice age patina!!