Struck to commemorate the fall of Bataan and Corregidor by General Masaharu Homma, the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Armed Forces.
In addition to two basic types (plain edge and reeded edge) at least ten stamp variations are known. Specimens in bronze and brass are also known.
Medals were...
general homma medal
homma medal
japaneseoccupationofphilippinesbadgejapaneseoccupationofphilippines medal
philippine expeditionary army badge
本間章
紀元二千六百二年比島遠征紀念章
Silver.
Size 28 x 35 mm.
Weight 18.2 g.
Obverse
賞 - Award
reverse
陣中新聞南十字星 - Jinchu Shimbun [At the Front Newspaper] Southern Cross
文藝賞 - Literature Award
比島派遣軍宣博班 - Hijima Dispatch Army [Philippine Expeditionary Force] Propaganda Team
Size 33 mm.
Obverse
比島 - Philippines
攻略 - Сapture
reverse
紀念 - Commemorative
皇紀二千六百二年 - 2602 Years of Imperial Era = 1942
空第九九三六部隊 - Air Unit No. 9936 (most likely field airfield construction unit)
大東亜戦争参加 - Greater East Asian War Participation
Ingraved
手烏 - Tekarasu