Order of the Chrysanthemum

The Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (大勲位菊花章, Dai-kun'i kikka-shō) is Japan's highest order. The Grand Cordon of the Order was established in 1876 by Emperor Meiji of Japan; the Collar of the Order was added on 4 January 1888. Unlike its European counterparts, the order may be conferred posthumously.

Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
大勲位菊花章
Dai-kun'i kikka-shō
Awarded by the Emperor of Japan
Awarded forExceptionally meritorious achievement/service
StatusCurrently constituted
SovereignHM The Emperor
GradesCollar
Grand Cordon
Precedence
Next (higher)None; highest.
Next (lower)Order of the Paulownia Flowers

Ribbon of the Order

Apart from the Imperial Family, only six Japanese citizens have ever been decorated with the collar in their lifetimes; the last such award was to former Prime Minister Saionji Kinmochi in 1928. Eight others have been posthumously decorated with the collar; the last such award was to former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone in 2019, as of the end of 2020. Today, only the reigning Emperor holds this dignity as sovereign of the order; however, exceptions are made for foreign heads of state, who can be awarded the collar in friendship.

The grand cordon is the highest possible honour a Japanese citizen can be awarded during his or her lifetime. Aside from members of the Imperial Family, 44 Japanese citizens have been decorated with the grand cordon; of these, only 23 were living at the time of receipt.

Insignia

The collar of the order is made of gold, and features the kanji for "Meiji", in classic form, indicating the era of the order's establishment. It is decorated with gold chrysanthemum blossoms and green-enamelled leaves.

The sash of the grand cordon of the order is red with dark blue border stripes. It is worn on the right shoulder.

The star of the order is similar to the badge, but in silver, without the chrysanthemum suspension, and with an eight-pointed gilt medallion (with white-enamelled rays and red-enamelled sun disc) placed at the centre. It is worn on the left chest.

The badge of the order is a four-pointed gilt badge with white-enamelled rays; the centre bears a red enamelled sun disc. On each of the four corners of the badge is a yellow-enamelled chrysanthemum blossom with green-enamelled chrysanthemum leaves. The badge is suspended on a yellow-enamelled chrysanthemum, either on the collar or on the grand cordon.

Ribbon bars

Collar
Grand Cordon

Grades
Name / Image Enactment date Purpose of the award

Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
 January 4, 1888 It is said to be "a special gift for those decorated with the Supreme Order."[1][lower-alpha 1]

Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum

badge (top), star (bottom right), rosette (bottom left)
 December 27, 1876 "Specially awarded... to those who have excellent merit, above the merit for which the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun or the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasures would be awarded".[2]

Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
 December 27, 1876 It has never been awarded on its own, instead it has been treated as the star of the Grand Cordon and of the Collar;

officially incorporated as the star of both grades in the 2003 institutional reform.


Sovereigns
  • Emperor Meiji (Sovereign from 27 December 1876)
  • Emperor Taishō (Grand Cordon 3 November 1889; Collar 10 May 1900; Sovereign from 30 July 1912)
  • Emperor Shōwa (Grand Cordon 9 September 1912; Collar as Regent 24 September 1921; Sovereign from 25 December 1926)
  • Emperor Akihito (Grand Cordon 10 November 1952; Sovereign from 7 January 1989 to 30 April 2019)
  • Emperor Naruhito (Grand Cordon 23 February 1980; Sovereign since 1 May 2019)

Awards of the Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum to members of the Imperial Family and royalty

Awards made to imperial princes while living

Posthumous awards to imperial princes

Posthumous award to foreign royalty

Awards of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum to members of the Imperial Family and royalty

Awards made to imperial princes while living

Posthumous awards to imperial princes

Awards to foreign royalty

Ordinary awards of the Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum
Marshal-Admiral Marquis Tōgō Heihachirō, with the Collar and the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum. Tōgō was one of only six subjects to whom the Collar was awarded while living.

Awards made to living individuals

Posthumous awards

Ordinary awards of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum

Awards made to living recipients
Marquis Saigō Tsugumichi
* : Later awarded the Collar
⁑ : Posthumously awarded the Collar

Posthumous awards
Masayoshi Ōhira

Foreign recipients of the Order of the Chrysanthemum
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Collar

Grand Cordon

Collar (deceased)
King Edward VII
Dwight D. Eisenhower

Grand Cordon (deceased)
Benito Mussolini

Notes
  1. すなわち、大勲位菊花大綬章受章者であることが授与の条件である。(In other words, being a recipient of the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum is a prerequisite to be awarded.)
  2. Promoted from Grand Cordon in 1987.
  3. Decoration probably conferred during 1969 State Visit to Japan -- no specific citation support.
  4. Promoted from Grand Cordon awarded in 1955.
  5. Awarded October 1887.[26]

References

Citations
  1. Article 2.1, Imperial Ordinance No. 1 of Meiji 21st (1881) (Order of the Precious Crown and Collar of the Supreme Chrysanthemum) (明治21年勅令第1号（宝冠章及大勲位菊花章頸飾ニ関スル件）2条1項, Meiji 21-nen Chokurei dai-1-go (Hōkanshō oyobi dai-kun’i kikka-shō keishoku ni kansuru ken) 2-jō 1-kō)
  2. 勲章の授与基準、2003年（平成15年）5月20日閣議決定 [Criteria for awarding medals, Cabinet decision, as of 20 May 2003 (Heisei 15th year)] (PDF). 20 May 2003.
  3. "外国人叙勲受章者名簿 平成26年 (Gaikokujin jokun jushō-sha meibo Heisei 26-nen (2014))" [Non-Japanese honoree, 2014 (Heisei 26th Year)]. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  4. Bortrick, William (2009). "The Royal Family - HM Queen Elizabeth II". Burke's Peerage & Gentry. Archived from the original on 20 January 2009.
  5. "The Belgian King Albert II and Queen Paola and their eldest son,..." Getty Images. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  6. Régine. "Dîner d'Etat au Palais impérial de Tokyo – Noblesse & Royautés" (in French). Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  7. "外国人叙勲受章者名簿 平成22年 (Gaikokujin jokun jushō-sha meibo 2010 (Heisei 22-nen) )" [Non-Japanese Honoree, 2010 (Heisei 22nd Year)]. www.mofa.go.jp. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan). Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  8. "King Salman to hold talks with Japanese premier today". Arab News. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  9. Order awarded 5 Oct. 1971: "Regiments: British, Empire, Commonwealth". Archived from the original on 13 December 2007.
  10. Order awarded 5 Oct. 1971: "Regiments: British, Empire, Commonwealth". Archived from the original on 23 January 2008.
  11. "viewimages.com Search_mid=72793886".
  12. "Danish Crown Prince website". Archived from the original on 19 May 2012.
  13. "H.K.H. Prins Joachim". Kongehuset (in Danish). 28 October 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  14. "Belga Pictures, State visit in Japan, 1996 : Sovereign couples & Prince Philippe". Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
  15. Order awarded 26 May 1994, mentioned in his biography in : The official publication (pdf). the Belgian Senate.
  16. "外国人叙勲受章者名簿 平成25年 (Gaikokujin jokun jushōsha meibo Heisei 25-nen)" [Non-Japanese Honorees, 2013 (Heisei 25th year)]. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  17. "Their majesties visit to Estonia" (pdf). Eesti Ringvaade. Volume 17, Number 21 : May 23-29, 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 March 2009.
  18. "President of the Republic of Lithuania - Biography". Government of Lithuania.
  19. "Polish presidential web page". 16 August 2007. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007.
  20. "The Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Japan". web.archive.org. 15 November 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  21. Quismundo, Tarra (3 June 2015). "Aquino gets Japan's highest honor from imperial family". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Tokyo. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  22. "外国人叙勲受章者名簿 平成29年 (Gaikokujin jokun jushōsha meibo Heisei 29-nen)" [Non-Japanese Honoree, 2017]. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  23. During the visit of Prince Komatsu Akihito to the UK in June 1902 to attend his coronation -- "Court Circular". The Times (36794). London. 14 June 1902. p. 12.
  24. Honor awarded 1930 -- "Japan to Decorate King Alfonso Today; Emperor's Brother Nears Madrid With Collar of the Chrysanthemum for Spanish King". New York Times. 3 November 1930.
  25. "Buradayız > Anasayfa > Belgeler > Japon İmparatorunun II. Abdülhamid Han'a Mektubuabdulhamid hana mektup, japon imparatoru mutsuhito" [DOCUMENTS: Japanese Emperor's II. Letter to Abdulhamid Han]. osmanlihanedanvakfi.com (in Turkish). Ottoman Dynasty. Archived from the original on 16 September 2011 – via Source: Seven Continents Magazine.
  26. "The Martyrs of Turkish Fleet at the Shore of Ooshima" (slides 5-6 -- A Brief Introduction to International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians (PDF). Rotary Mariners. 8 February 2005. Archived from the original (pdf) on 8 February 2005.
  27. Awarded 20 February 1906. Redesdale, Lord (1906). The Garter Mission to Japan. London: Macmillan. p. 26.
  28. Honor awarded 1929 -- "Imperial Garter". Time Magazine. 13 May 1929.
  29. Honor awarded in 1938 -- "Flower to Mussolini". Time Magazine. 5 September 1938.
  30. Honor awarded in 1924 -- "Japan Decorates Obregon; Order of the Chrysanthemum is Conferred by Special Ambassador". New York Times. 28 November 1924.
  31. Honor awarded 1931 -- "Mighty Monarch". Time Magazine. 20 April 1931.
  32. Honor awarded 1989 -- Weisman, Stephen (24 October 1989). "Reagan Given Top Award by Japanese". New York Times.
  33. Vancouver Maritime Museum Archived 5 January 2013 at Archive.today
  34. http://www.stripes.com/news/marcos-arrives-for-japan-visit-1.18414
  35. Marumoto, Masaji (1976). "Vignette of Early Hawaii-Japan Relations: Highlights of King Kalakaua's Sojourn in Japan on His Trip around the World as Recorded in His Personal Diary" (PDF). eVols at University of Hawaii at Manoa. University of Hawaii at Manoa. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  36. 刑部, 芳則; Osakabe, Yoshinori (November 2017). "明治時代の勲章外交儀礼 (特集 近代の皇室制度 : その運用と課題)" [The Ritual of Decoration Diplomacy in the Meiji Era (Featured : Modern Imperial household system, its implication and challenges)] (pdf). Journal for the Meiji Seitoku Kinen gakkai. Meiji Seitoku Kinen Gakkai (明治聖徳記念学会) (54): 139–171. ISSN 0916-0655.; (明治聖徳記念学会紀要)

Sources

See also
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