Named Japanese Medals and Badges Group to a Sergeant Major of the 1920 Siberian Intervention

The medals and badges were awarded to a Japanese Army Sergeant Major Matsugoro Kotake, who served in Japan’s deployment of troops to Siberia in 1920 following the Bolshevik Revolution. All of the medals and badges are contained within a wooden box which bears painted kanji on the lid that reads “Taishi 3~9 Military Campaign; Orders, Medals; From Taisho 9 [1920] January; Siberia Deployment”. The box is approximately 8 inches wide by 12-3/4 inches long by 2-1/2 inches deep. The box contains the following medals and badges that were awarded to Sergeant Major Matsugoro Kotake:

– Cased Order of the Rising Sun, 7th Class. The medal is in excellent condition, with intact enamel. The black lacquer wood case is also in excellent condition.

– Boxed Japanese 1914-1920 First World War Medal, whose recipients included the military personnel of the Siberian intervention force. Both the medal and the box are in excellent condition.

– Cased Imperial Red Cross Member Medal for Distinguished Contributions to the Society. The medal is the aluminum version, with its lapel rosette, and both the medal and the case are in excellent condition.

– The three place ribbon bar for the above Order and medals.

– The Japanese Badge for Military Wounded and Sick, this being the type “B” badge as awarded for illness or non-combat wounds (such as frostbite). Excelent condition, with uncleaned patina and intact enamel.

– A boxed Army Artillery Proficiency Badge. The badge shows wear to the gilt finish and the box has split corners on the lid.

– The boxed Meritorious Service Badge of the Imperial Time Expired Soldiers League, with the award document. The silver badge and its case are both in excelent condition. The award document is approximately 13-1/4 inches by 17-1/2 inches. The document has been folded but it is without tears or damage and makes a very good appearance.

– Two membership badges for the Imperial Time Expired Soldiers League.

– The group also contains a small match safe and a small personal mirror.

Overall the group comprises a superb assemblage of an Imperial Order and medals to a senior non-commissioned officer of the Imperial Japanese Army who participated in the Siberian Intervention of 1920 and who was obviously very proud of his service to the Emperor, with distinguished work following his active duty in the Imperial Time Expired Soldiers League. All of the items are in generally excellent condition.

–