JAPANESESUPREME ORDER OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM.ONE SET WITH SASH.
THE ADVENCE QUALITY MODERN REPRODUCTION.SOLID ALLOY PLATED PURE SILVER AND 22K GOLD.
All images and articles contained on this site belong myself. Images may not be used or reproduced without my permission.
TheSupreme Order of the kikka-shō?, literallyGrand Order of the Badge of the Chrysanthemums)isJapan\'s highestorder. The Grand Cordon of the Order was established in 1876 byEmperor Meiji of Japan; the collar of the Order was added on January 4, 1888. Although technically the order has only one class, it can either be awarded \"with collar,\" meaning on a chain, or \"with grand cordon,\" accompanied by a sash. Unlike itsEuropeancounterparts, the order may be conferred posthumously.
Apart from theImperial Family, only six Japanese citizens have ever been decorated with the collar in their lifetimes; the last such award was to formerPrime MinisterSaionji Kinmochiin 1928. Seven others have been posthumously decorated with the collar; the last such award was to former Prime MinisterSato Eisakuin 1975. Today, only the reigning Emperor holds this dignity as sovereign of the order; however, exceptions are made for foreignheads 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 lifetime. Aside from the Imperial Family, 21 grand cordons have been awarded to living citizens and 29 to the deceased.
