Item number: M115

Year: AD 1920

Material: Bronze

Size: case 108.4 x 59.8 x 23.0 / medal 35.4 x 81.2 x 1.7 mm

Weight: 21.5 g

Provenance: Quan Jian Zhai 2022

This item is the Japanese WWI Allied Victory Medal, accompanied by a wooden case with the inscription “Victory Medal.” It was established according to the “Victory Medal Regulations (戰捷記章令)” of the 9th year of Taisho (AD 1920), aimed at commemorating the victory of the Allied Powers in World War I and awarded to military personnel who served between the 3rd year of Taisho (AD 1914) and the 9th year of Taisho (AD 1920).

According to the “Victory Medal Regulations,” the material of the commemorative medal is bronze, with a diameter of one inch and two. On the obverse side is the image of the God of War, Takemikazuchi(建御雷), and on the reverse side is a depiction of the earth adorned with a spherical bead, surrounded by a cherry blossom wreath with flags of Japan, the United States, Britain, France, and Italy depicted on five petals. The outer edge is engraved with “The Great War in Defense of Civilization. Other Allied and Associated Powers. From the 3rd year of Taisho to the 9th year of Taisho.” The ribbon style features a symmetrical rainbow color scheme, aligning with the design of Victory Medals from other Allied countries during World War I. This medal was designed by the famous sculptor Shokichi Hata.

Japan entered the conflict to support its ally, Great Britain. Japan and Britain signed the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Alliance in AD 1902 to defend against the threat of Russian expansion in Asia and in response to Britain’s decreasing control of the oceans. When Great Britain declared war against Germany on 2 August AD 1914, Japan mobilized its navy, comprising approximately 100 warships. On 14 August, Japan issued an ultimatum to Germany, demanding the removal of its forces and the surrender of its territory in China and island possessions in the Pacific. Germany ignored the warning, prompting Japan’s declaration of war on 23 August, followed by a second declaration of war against Austria-Hungary on 25 August.

Japan’s leadership recognized that the unfolding conflict in Europe posed both a threat to and an opportunity for advancing Japan’s interests. At the outbreak of World War I, Germany controlled the port of Tsingtao on the Shantung Peninsula in eastern China. Germany maintained its Far Eastern squadron and garrisoned 3,500 troops and 2,500 reservists in Tsingtao. From a Japanese perspective, a German victory in the war could lead to increased competition in East Asia. Japan leveraged the war as an opportunity to honor its alliance with Great Britain, to assert itself as a great power, and to promote its expansionist policies. Japanese leaders viewed the war as offering “one chance in one thousand” to increase Japan’s territory while German forces were concentrated in Europe.

Japan’s contributions during the war initially focused on seizing German territory in the Far East. Japan led a joint Anglo-Japanese military operation, involving approximately 25,000 troops, to defeat the German forces in Tsingtao, which surrendered in November AD 1914. This marked a significant shift in the character of warfare, as it featured the first-ever use of Japanese seaplanes launched from an air carrier to sink a German minelayer and bombard German positions. Additionally, Japan acquired German possessions in Oceania, including the Caroline, Marianas, Marshall, and Yap islands.

The war resulted in Japan acquiring territory, experiencing an economic boom, and emerging as a great power with a prominent seat at the table during the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in June AD 1919.

物件編號: M115

年代: 公元 1920 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: case 108.4 x 59.8 x 23.0 / medal 35.4 x 81.2 x 1.7 mm

重量: 21.5 g

來源: 泉鑒齋 2022

本物品為戰捷記章，附有寫有「戰捷記章」的木盒。根據大正九年（公元1920年）的「戰捷記章令」所設立的紀念章，旨在紀念第一次世界大戰同盟國的勝利，授予於大正三年（公元1914年）至大正九年（公元1920年）間服役的軍隊成員。根據「戰捷記章令」，紀念章材質為青銅，直徑為一寸二。正面為武甍槌神像（又稱建御雷 ），背面正中央繪有以圓珠裝飾的地球，被五瓣畫有日、美、英、法、義國旗的櫻花環繞。外圍刻有「文明擁護之大戰．其他同盟及聯合國．自大正三年．至大正九年」。緞帶的樣式是對稱的彩虹帶，與其他同盟國的一戰勝利獎章一致。此紀章由雕塑家畑正吉所設計。

日本以三大協約國的盟友的身份從公元1914年到公元1918年參與了第一次世界大戰，並通過與德意志帝國海軍對抗，在保障西太平洋與印度洋的海上航道方面，扮演了重要的角色。

日本加入這場衝突是為了支援其盟友大英帝國。日本和大英帝國於公元1902年簽署英日同盟條約，旨在防範俄羅斯在亞洲的擴張威脅，並考慮到大英帝國對海上控制的收縮。當大英帝國於公元1914年8月2日向德國宣戰時，日本動員了約100艘戰艦的海軍。8月14日，日本向德國發出最後通牒，要求其撤出中國的軍隊並放棄太平洋的島嶼領土。德國無視警告，促使日本於8月23日宣戰，隨後於8月25日對奧匈帝國宣戰。

日本領導層認識到，歐洲不斷的衝突對日本的利益既構成威脅又提供機遇。第一次世界大戰爆發時，德國控制著位於中國東部山東半島的青島港口。德國在青島部署了一支遠東艦隊，並在那裡駐紮了3500名士兵和2500名預備役。從日本的角度來看，德國在戰爭中的勝利可能會導致東亞競爭加劇。因此日本利用這場戰爭的機會，以履行其與大英帝國的盟約為由，成為一個大國，並推動其擴張主義政策。日本領導人認為這場戰爭提供了千載一時的機會，可以在德國軍隊集中在歐洲時擴大其領土。 

日本在戰爭期間的貢獻最初主要集中在太平洋的德國領土上。日本領導了一場聯合的英日軍事行動，約有2.5萬名士兵參與，以擊敗青島的德國軍隊，後者於公元1914年11月投降。這標誌著戰爭性質的重大轉變，因為這是首次使用從航空母艦上發射的日本水上飛機，以擊沉德國佈雷艦並轟炸德國陣地。此外，日本還佔領了大洋洲的德國領土，包括卡羅林群島、馬里亞納群島、馬紹爾群島和雅浦群島。

這場戰爭導致日本獲得了領土，經濟蓬勃發展，並在公元1919年6月簽署凡爾賽條約時崛起為一個大國，佔據重要席位。