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1979 Great East Asia War Commemorative Medal
(Full Size, With Case)
大東亞戰爭紀念之章
(官方版, 含盒)
Item number: M117
Year: AD 1979
Material: Metal
Size: case 103.1 x 54.9 x 24.2 / medal 29.1 x 77.7 x 1.7 mm
Weight: 20.3 g
Provenance: Quan Jian Zhai 2022
The medal is the “Greater East Asia War Commemorative Medal,” awarded by the Japan Hometown Federation in AD 1979 to commemorate the thirty-fifth anniversary of the end of the war. It is accompanied by a black lacquer case with gilt lettered inscription and a circular medal pendant.
The appearance of this item is that of a circular metal medal. On the obverse side, it features two intersecting swords, a radiant eight-pointed star, and a chrysanthemum emblem (symbolizing the Japanese imperial family) at the center, surrounded by cherry blossom motifs. On the reverse side, there is a map of the Pacific region, with the inscription “Greater East Asia War” encircling the top of the medal. Below it, the dates “December 8, the 16th year of the Shōwa era (AD 1941) – August 15, the 20th year of the Shōwa era (AD 1945)” are engraved. The ribbon of the medal starts with purple and light blue stripes on each side, followed by dark green stripes, with white in the middle. Additionally, the ribbon includes a nameplate with the inscription “Commemorative Medal” (紀念之章).
The design of this medal bears a striking resemblance to the “Greater East Asia War Medal,” thus making them easily confusable.
The Greater East Asia War refers to Japan’s military campaign in the Far East and Pacific theaters during World War II, now commonly referred to as the Pacific War. It began on December 7, AD 1941, when Japan launched a surprise attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, inflicting significant losses on the American Pacific Fleet and marking the beginning of the Pacific War. Subsequently, Japan embarked on a large-scale expansion campaign in the Pacific region, occupying various territories in Southeast Asia, Pacific islands, and additional territories in China.
However, as the war continued, the Allied forces, led by the United States, launched counteroffensives and gradually suppressed Japan’s power on the battlefield. As the war progressed, the Allies initiated a series of counterattacks against Japan’s occupation in the Pacific region, including a sequence of naval battles and island campaigns such as the Battle of Midway, the Battle of Guam, and the Battle of Iwo Jima. On August 6 and August 9, AD 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, marking the first and only use of nuclear weapons against civilian targets in history. The deployment of these atomic bombs resulted in massive destruction and casualties, forcing the Japanese government to face reality. Eventually, on August 15 of the same year, Japan announced unconditional surrender.
物件編號: M117
年代: 公元 1979 年
材質: 金屬
尺寸: 盒 103.1 x 54.9 x 24.2 / 獎章 29.1 x 77.7 x 1.7 mm