61:
792:
728:
242:
characters "Bukō" (Military Merit). The reverse side (again in gilt for A-Class, bronzed for B-Class) bore the six kanji characters in two columns "Rikugun/Bukōchōshō" (Army/Badge for
Military Merit). Both classes were the same size: 50 mm (2.0 in) high and 40 mm (1.6 in) wide.
193:
the end of a war, for services throughout the conflict. As the Second World War dragged on, it became apparent that there was a need to promote morale among active army units by rewarding acts of valor more readily. To this end, the IJA suggested the
188:
could also be awarded to civilians). However, the process by which Order of the Golden Kite was awarded was very lengthy: it was indeed awarded to military men who had died in service, while the remainder were normally awarded only
250:
was allowed to be given retroactively to soldiers who had distinguished themselves as far back as 1941 or perhaps 1940. In practice, the award was given disproportionately to fighter pilots flying against the
American
716:
709:
854:
1430:
702:
198:
as an alternate decoration for living recipients who had shown the highest valor in combat, to be awarded much more quickly by division commanders in the field. Emperor
873:
1406:
1082:
180:
had served for decades as an auspicious military award of the
Japanese armed forces, and was the only Japanese order that was solely awarded to the military (the
694:
426:
29:
1435:
732:
1445:
847:
1440:
1310:
989:
255:
bombing the
Japanese homeland. The first three men to win the award were Toru Shinomiya, Masao Itagaki and Matsumi Nakano—pilots flying the
887:
1450:
1318:
1186:
1009:
431:
76:
441:
657:
1382:
1154:
1130:
840:
578:
1270:
1366:
1358:
1236:
1119:
751:
632:
502:
1390:
1294:
1222:
1103:
1042:
1026:
864:
761:
283:
185:
1302:
1094:
1050:
903:
771:
524:
451:
226:(as it was popularly known) was presented in two classes, called A and B, or First and Second. Loosely resembling the
1334:
1278:
1111:
965:
746:
1162:
1058:
252:
1374:
1350:
1326:
1138:
997:
895:
811:
776:
177:
95:
1229:
1034:
821:
781:
756:
446:
181:
262:
fighter known by the Allies as the "Tony". On 3 December 1944, the three men were successful in very risky
346:
279:
207:
157:
1342:
949:
941:
436:
1262:
379:
238:
for A-Class, bronzed for B-Class) forming a cross, with a gilt banner at the center bearing the two
28:
673:
267:
1170:
1066:
407:
364:
160:(IJA) to living soldiers who had performed with exceptional valor in battle. Airmen, especially
149:
1286:
653:
628:
622:
574:
498:
164:
pilots defending Japan against enemy bombers, were most likely to win the award. Eighty-nine
1194:
1090:
1005:
981:
973:
933:
766:
494:
487:
161:
1202:
1074:
922:
153:
66:
832:
1243:
1215:
1210:
791:
461:
313:
263:
256:
1424:
1178:
1146:
1018:
957:
914:
202:
established the award on 7 December 1944, the third anniversary of the attacks on
1398:
456:
211:
99:
227:
203:
532:
156:, established on 7 December 1944 by Imperial edict. It was awarded by the
199:
235:
234:
was a pin back badge, cast in iron or steel, featuring two shields (in
806:
727:
239:
836:
698:
168:
were awarded during the eight months it was actively awarded.
648:
Hata, Ikuhiko; Izawa, Yashuho; Shores, Christopher (2012).
573:. Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. pp. 67–70.
462:
Victoria Cross (United
Kingdom & Commonwealth Realms)
270:, successfully rammed B-29s on two occasions to earn two
888:
Argentine Nation to the Heroic Valour in Combat Cross
1255:
880:
799:
739:
121:
113:
105:
91:
83:
72:
54:
46:
38:
21:
556:Orders & medals of Japan and associated states
486:
144:("Badge for Military Merit"), commonly called the
874:List of highest military decorations by country
452:Order of Loyalty and Valour (Republic of China)
1407:Hero of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
616:
614:
612:
610:
489:Above and beyond: the aviation Medals of Honor
210:, which had signaled the start of the broader
136:
848:
710:
608:
606:
604:
602:
600:
598:
596:
594:
592:
590:
8:
1171:Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword
415:Commander Terao Kisaemon, Battle of Mindanao
427:Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
855:
841:
833:
717:
703:
695:
432:Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Germany)
27:
18:
1383:Order of the Karađorđe's Star with Swords
518:
516:
514:
493:. Smithsonian Institution Press. p.
480:
478:
476:
1431:Military awards and decorations of Japan
733:Orders, decorations, and medals of Japan
412:First Lieutenant Oki, Battle of Mindanao
558:. Orders and Medals Society of America.
472:
385:Yasushi Miyamotobayashi, fighter pilot
621:Sakaida, Henry; Takaki, Kōji (2001).
7:
1131:Order of the White Eagle with swords
571:Japanese Army Air Force Aces 1937-45
33:Bukōshō A-Class or First Class medal
650:Japanese Army Fighter Aces: 1931–45
680:. Imperial Japan Medals and Badges
627:. Osprey Publishing. p. 121.
14:
358:Shigeyasu Miyamoto, fighter pilot
274:. Unusually, the IJA awarded the
1319:Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
790:
726:
652:. Stackpole Books. p. 237.
59:
1436:Military of the Empire of Japan
1271:Military Order of Maria Theresa
1155:Laureate Cross of St. Ferdinand
447:Medal of Military Valor (Italy)
370:Chuichi Ichikawa, fighter pilot
355:Sadamitsu Kimura, fighter pilot
343:Satohide Kohatsu, fighter pilot
340:Kuniyoshi Tanaka, fighter pilot
278:to at least one aviator of the
1359:Castle of Good Hope Decoration
1120:Hero of the Russian Federation
752:Order of the Paulownia Flowers
352:Tohru Shinomiya, fighter pilot
1:
1446:Awards disestablished in 1945
865:military awards for gallantry
376:Tomojiro Ogawa, fighter pilot
361:Kenji Fujimoto, fighter pilot
337:Matsumi Nakano, fighter pilot
331:Toru Shinomiya, fighter pilot
1441:1944 establishments in Japan
1367:Vietnam Military Merit Medal
1295:Military Order of Max Joseph
1104:Order of the Tower and Sword
1043:Gold Medal of Military Valor
1027:Military Medal for Gallantry
762:Order of the Sacred Treasure
403:Naoyuki Ogata, fighter pilot
397:Koki Kawamoto, fighter pilot
391:Yojiro Ohbusa, fighter pilot
373:Takashi Nakai, fighter pilot
334:Masao Itagaki, fighter pilot
284:Battle of the Philippine Sea
282:, for valiant action in the
186:Order of the Sacred Treasure
1303:Military Order of St. Henry
1051:Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa
904:National Hero of Azerbaijan
772:Order of the Precious Crown
554:Peterson, James W. (1967).
457:Silver Star (United States)
437:Médaille militaire (France)
400:Mitsuo Oyake, fighter pilot
319:Isamu Sasaki, fighter pilot
253:Boeing B-29 Superfortresses
1467:
1451:Awards established in 1944
1112:Order of Michael the Brave
1091:War Order Virtuti Militari
990:Cross of Honour for Valour
747:Order of the Chrysanthemum
529:Orders and Medals of Japan
442:Medal "For Courage" (USSR)
406:Sergeant-Major Kobayashi,
1354:(Second Spanish Republic)
1163:Parama Weera Vibhushanaya
1059:Military Order of William
871:
788:
740:Current honors and orders
485:Tillman, Barrett (2002).
394:Totaro Ito, fighter pilot
388:Isamu Hoya, fighter pilot
301:Tadao Sumi, fighter pilot
137:
26:
1375:Hero of the Soviet Union
1351:Laureate Plate of Madrid
1327:Order of the Golden Kite
1314:(Kingdom of Württemberg)
1139:Order of the Somali Star
896:National Hero of Armenia
822:Military Medals of Honor
812:Order of the Golden Kite
800:Former honors and orders
777:Person of Cultural Merit
624:B-29 Hunters of the JAAF
266:attacks. Another pilot,
178:Order of the Golden Kite
96:Second Sino-Japanese War
42:Two-class military award
1386:(Kingdom of Yugoslavia)
1095:Order Krzyża Wojskowego
757:Order of the Rising Sun
569:Sakaida, Henry (1997).
182:Order of the Rising Sun
87:Military personnel only
50:Supreme valor in battle
1203:Order of the Gold Star
678:Military Service Badge
280:Imperial Japanese Navy
158:Imperial Japanese Army
79:, divisional commander
1343:Grand Cross of Valour
950:Order of Duke Domagoj
942:Order of August First
1311:Military Merit Order
1298:(Kingdom of Bavaria)
1290:(Kingdom of Prussia)
1282:(Kingdom of Hungary)
1263:Order of Saint Louis
1126:(Russian Federation)
535:on 27 September 2013
286:on 19–20 June 1944.
1306:(Kingdom of Saxony)
1266:(Kingdom of France)
523:Berdaguer, Xavier.
290:Selected recipients
150:military decoration
1335:Order of Lāčplēsis
408:Battle of Mindanao
365:Teruhiko Kobayashi
1418:
1417:
1330:(Empire of Japan)
1274:(Austria-Hungary)
830:
829:
307:Second or B-class
133:Rikugun Bukōkishō
129:
128:
109:No longer awarded
1458:
1411:
1403:
1395:
1394:(SFR Yugoslavia)
1391:Order of Freedom
1387:
1379:
1371:
1363:
1355:
1347:
1339:
1331:
1323:
1315:
1307:
1299:
1291:
1283:
1279:Medal of Bravery
1275:
1267:
1248:
1240:
1232:
1225:
1218:
1207:
1199:
1195:Order of Katonga
1191:
1183:
1175:
1167:
1159:
1151:
1143:
1135:
1127:
1116:
1108:
1100:
1087:
1079:
1071:
1063:
1055:
1047:
1039:
1031:
1023:
1015:
1006:Param Vir Chakra
1002:
994:
986:
982:Légion d'honneur
978:
974:Mannerheim Cross
970:
966:Cross of Liberty
962:
954:
946:
938:
934:Order of Bravery
930:
919:
911:
900:
892:
857:
850:
843:
834:
794:
767:Order of Culture
731:
730:
719:
712:
705:
696:
690:
689:
687:
685:
670:
664:
663:
645:
639:
638:
618:
585:
584:
566:
560:
559:
551:
545:
544:
542:
540:
531:. Archived from
520:
509:
508:
492:
482:
295:First or A-class
142:
140:
139:
65:
63:
62:
31:
19:
1466:
1465:
1461:
1460:
1459:
1457:
1456:
1455:
1421:
1420:
1419:
1414:
1409:
1401:
1393:
1385:
1377:
1370:(South Vietnam)
1369:
1361:
1353:
1345:
1337:
1329:
1321:
1313:
1305:
1297:
1289:
1281:
1273:
1265:
1251:
1247:(United States)
1246:
1235:
1228:
1221:
1213:
1205:
1197:
1189:
1181:
1173:
1165:
1157:
1149:
1141:
1133:
1125:
1114:
1106:
1098:
1085:
1077:
1075:Nishan-e-Haider
1069:
1061:
1053:
1045:
1037:
1029:
1021:
1013:
1000:
998:Cross of Valour
992:
984:
976:
968:
960:
952:
944:
936:
928:
923:Hero of Belarus
917:
909:
898:
890:
876:
867:
861:
831:
826:
795:
786:
782:Medals of Honor
735:
725:
723:
693:
683:
681:
674:"The Bukoushou"
672:
671:
667:
660:
647:
646:
642:
635:
620:
619:
588:
581:
568:
567:
563:
553:
552:
548:
538:
536:
522:
521:
512:
505:
484:
483:
474:
470:
423:
418:
382:, fighter pilot
367:, fighter pilot
349:, fighter pilot
327:
322:
316:, fighter pilot
309:
304:
297:
292:
230:1st Class, the
220:
174:
154:Empire of Japan
134:
117:7 December 1944
98:
67:Empire of Japan
60:
58:
34:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1464:
1462:
1454:
1453:
1448:
1443:
1438:
1433:
1423:
1422:
1416:
1415:
1413:
1412:
1404:
1402:(Ancient Rome)
1396:
1388:
1380:
1378:(Soviet Union)
1372:
1364:
1362:(South Africa)
1356:
1348:
1340:
1332:
1324:
1322:(Nazi Germany)
1316:
1308:
1300:
1292:
1287:Pour le Mérite
1284:
1276:
1268:
1259:
1257:
1253:
1252:
1250:
1249:
1244:Medal of Honor
1241:
1233:
1226:
1219:
1216:United Kingdom
1211:Victoria Cross
1208:
1200:
1192:
1187:Medal of Honor
1184:
1176:
1168:
1160:
1152:
1150:(South Africa)
1144:
1136:
1128:
1117:
1109:
1101:
1088:
1083:Medal of Valor
1080:
1072:
1064:
1056:
1048:
1040:
1035:Medal of Valor
1032:
1024:
1019:Order of Fat'h
1016:
1003:
995:
987:
979:
971:
963:
955:
947:
939:
931:
920:
912:
901:
893:
884:
882:
878:
877:
872:
869:
868:
862:
860:
859:
852:
845:
837:
828:
827:
825:
824:
819:
814:
809:
803:
801:
797:
796:
789:
787:
785:
784:
779:
774:
769:
764:
759:
754:
749:
743:
741:
737:
736:
724:
722:
721:
714:
707:
699:
692:
691:
665:
659:978-0811710763
658:
640:
633:
586:
579:
561:
546:
510:
503:
471:
469:
466:
465:
464:
459:
454:
449:
444:
439:
434:
429:
422:
419:
417:
416:
413:
410:
404:
401:
398:
395:
392:
389:
386:
383:
377:
374:
371:
368:
362:
359:
356:
353:
350:
347:Yoshio Yoshida
344:
341:
338:
335:
332:
328:
326:
323:
321:
320:
317:
314:Isamu Kashiide
310:
308:
305:
303:
302:
298:
296:
293:
291:
288:
264:aerial ramming
257:Kawasaki Ki-61
219:
216:
173:
170:
127:
126:
123:
119:
118:
115:
111:
110:
107:
103:
102:
93:
89:
88:
85:
81:
80:
77:Rikugun-Shōshō
74:
70:
69:
56:
52:
51:
48:
44:
43:
40:
36:
35:
32:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1463:
1452:
1449:
1447:
1444:
1442:
1439:
1437:
1434:
1432:
1429:
1428:
1426:
1410:(Afghanistan)
1408:
1405:
1400:
1397:
1392:
1389:
1384:
1381:
1376:
1373:
1368:
1365:
1360:
1357:
1352:
1349:
1344:
1341:
1336:
1333:
1328:
1325:
1320:
1317:
1312:
1309:
1304:
1301:
1296:
1293:
1288:
1285:
1280:
1277:
1272:
1269:
1264:
1261:
1260:
1258:
1254:
1245:
1242:
1238:
1234:
1231:
1227:
1224:
1220:
1217:
1212:
1209:
1204:
1201:
1196:
1193:
1188:
1185:
1180:
1179:Order of Rama
1177:
1172:
1169:
1164:
1161:
1156:
1153:
1148:
1147:Nkwe ya Gauta
1145:
1140:
1137:
1132:
1129:
1124:
1121:
1118:
1113:
1110:
1105:
1102:
1096:
1092:
1089:
1086:(Philippines)
1084:
1081:
1076:
1073:
1068:
1065:
1062:(Netherlands)
1060:
1057:
1052:
1049:
1044:
1041:
1036:
1033:
1028:
1025:
1020:
1017:
1011:
1010:Ashoka Chakra
1007:
1004:
999:
996:
991:
988:
983:
980:
975:
972:
967:
964:
959:
956:
951:
948:
943:
940:
935:
932:
927:
924:
921:
916:
913:
908:
905:
902:
897:
894:
889:
886:
885:
883:
879:
875:
870:
866:
858:
853:
851:
846:
844:
839:
838:
835:
823:
820:
818:
815:
813:
810:
808:
805:
804:
802:
798:
793:
783:
780:
778:
775:
773:
770:
768:
765:
763:
760:
758:
755:
753:
750:
748:
745:
744:
742:
738:
734:
729:
720:
715:
713:
708:
706:
701:
700:
697:
679:
675:
669:
666:
661:
655:
651:
644:
641:
636:
630:
626:
625:
617:
615:
613:
611:
609:
607:
605:
603:
601:
599:
597:
595:
593:
591:
587:
582:
580:1-85532-529-2
576:
572:
565:
562:
557:
550:
547:
534:
530:
526:
525:"The Bukosho"
519:
517:
515:
511:
506:
500:
496:
491:
490:
481:
479:
477:
473:
467:
463:
460:
458:
455:
453:
450:
448:
445:
443:
440:
438:
435:
433:
430:
428:
425:
424:
420:
414:
411:
409:
405:
402:
399:
396:
393:
390:
387:
384:
381:
378:
375:
372:
369:
366:
363:
360:
357:
354:
351:
348:
345:
342:
339:
336:
333:
330:
329:
325:Unknown class
324:
318:
315:
312:
311:
306:
300:
299:
294:
289:
287:
285:
281:
277:
273:
269:
268:Masao Itagaki
265:
261:
258:
254:
249:
244:
241:
237:
233:
229:
225:
217:
215:
213:
209:
205:
201:
197:
192:
187:
183:
179:
171:
169:
167:
163:
159:
155:
151:
147:
143:
124:
120:
116:
112:
108:
104:
101:
97:
94:
90:
86:
82:
78:
75:
71:
68:
57:
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
30:
25:
20:
1122:
1097:(peacetime)
1093:(wartime) /
1012:(peacetime)
1008:(wartime) /
958:Valour Cross
925:
918:(Bangladesh)
915:Bir Sreshtho
910:(Azerbaijan)
906:
816:
682:. Retrieved
677:
668:
649:
643:
623:
570:
564:
555:
549:
537:. Retrieved
533:the original
528:
488:
380:Makoto Ogawa
275:
271:
259:
247:
245:
231:
223:
221:
208:Pearl Harbor
195:
190:
175:
165:
145:
132:
130:
73:Presented by
1399:Grass Crown
1237:New Zealand
1166:(Sri Lanka)
891:(Argentina)
212:Pacific War
114:Established
100:Pacific War
92:Campaign(s)
84:Eligibility
47:Awarded for
1425:Categories
1346:(Rhodesia)
1182:(Thailand)
1107:(Portugal)
1078:(Pakistan)
1054:(Malaysia)
937:(Bulgaria)
817:Bukochosho
634:1841761613
504:1588340562
468:References
228:Iron Cross
196:Bukōchōshō
172:Background
1223:Australia
1206:(Ukraine)
1142:(Somalia)
1115:(Romania)
1067:War Cross
1030:(Ireland)
993:(Germany)
977:(Finland)
969:(Estonia)
961:(Denmark)
953:(Croatia)
929:(Belarus)
899:(Armenia)
204:Hong Kong
22:Bukōkishō
1338:(Latvia)
1256:Obsolete
1198:(Uganda)
1190:(Turkey)
1174:(Sweden)
1134:(Serbia)
1099:(Poland)
1070:(Norway)
1038:(Israel)
1001:(Greece)
985:(France)
863:Highest
684:1 August
539:1 August
421:See also
200:Hirohito
184:and the
148:, was a
1158:(Spain)
1046:(Italy)
1014:(India)
945:(China)
881:Current
807:Peerage
276:Bukōshō
272:Bukōshō
248:Bukōshō
232:Bukōshō
224:Bukōshō
166:Bukōshō
162:fighter
152:of the
146:Bukōshō
55:Country
1230:Canada
1022:(Iran)
656:
631:
577:
501:
138:陸軍武功徽章
106:Status
64:
1123:title
926:title
907:title
240:kanji
218:Award
191:after
122:Total
16:Award
686:2012
654:ISBN
629:ISBN
575:ISBN
541:2012
499:ISBN
260:Hien
246:The
236:gilt
222:The
206:and
176:The
131:The
39:Type
1427::
676:.
589:^
527:.
513:^
497:.
475:^
214:.
125:89
1239:)
1214:(
856:e
849:t
842:v
718:e
711:t
704:v
688:.
662:.
637:.
583:.
543:.
507:.
495:8
141:)
135:(
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