WWII Order of the Golden Kite 7th Class

Original Order of the Golden Kite, 7th Class – In Case of Issue (1937–1945)

A fine and original example of the Order of the Golden Kite 7th Class, complete with its period presentation case featuring silvered Japanese lettering to the lid.

Award Background:
The Order of the Golden Kite (金鵄勲章, Kinshi Kunshō) was a Japanese military order established in 1890 by Emperor Meiji, awarded exclusively for bravery, leadership, or command in battle. It was conferred upon both officers and enlisted men who distinguished themselves in service to the Empire. The decoration ranked just below the Order of the Rising Sun but carried enormous prestige as a purely military award.

The 7th Class was the lowest grade, typically awarded to enlisted soldiers and non-commissioned officers for acts of valor in combat. Even so, it symbolized personal courage and devotion to duty in the field, often during the campaigns of the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–45) and the Pacific War.

Award Details:

• Type: Order of the Golden Kite, 7th Class

• Period: Shōwa Era, 1937–1945

• Material: Silvered and gilded construction with fine enamel work (stylized golden kite motif with crossed swords and rays).

• Case: Original issue case with silvered kanji inscription to the lid.

• Condition: As seen – light signs of handling and age, case intact.

Historical Context:
The Order of the Golden Kite was abolished in 1947 by the Allied occupation authorities, making surviving wartime-issued examples particularly sought after. Awards from the late 1930s to 1945 are strongly associated with the campaigns in China, Manchuria, and the Pacific theater.

Collector’s Note:
A desirable original and cased example of Japan’s prestigious wartime combat decoration, representing the valor of enlisted soldiers in the Imperial Japanese Army. The presence of the case with silvered characters enhances its value and display appeal.