Japan - China Incident War Medal 1939

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Sina jihen jūgun kishō - Shōwa period. Instituted December 7, 1939, the Japanese China Incident War Medal was awarded for any service in China from 1937-1945. It is constructed out of a die struck bronze base that has been chemically burnished. The round shaped obverse features a centrally placed crow with outstretched wings, below the Imperial Chrysanthemum Seal of Japan, and flanked by two flags, all of which is in front of a sunburst pattern and a dotted border. The reverse displays mountains, clouds and waves with the Japanese inscription: “China Incident”. To the top is a claw, swivel ball loop and decorative attachment holding an inscribed clasp and ribbon. The ribbon is 37mm wide, watered, of 3 mm blue (the sea and the Navy), 7.5 mm tan (the soil of China, for the Army), 3.5 mm dark pink (the bloodstained soil of China), and 2 mm bright red (blood and loyalty). The ribbon has a two-part loop and clasp attachment. The medal measures 1 3/16 inches in diameter.