General Kuniaki Koiso/小磯國昭 陸軍大将

Kuniaki Koiso - Wikipedia

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He was awarded with 2nd class Golden Kite order on April 29, 1934.





He recieved 1st class Sacred Treasure order on April 5, 1934 (3rd class Golden Kite was received on November 1, 1920).
So the next photo should be made somewhere between April 5 and April 29 1934 (probabably the actual time frame is a little bit large due to usual awarding delays).

Another photo from the same time period.

 

Now Let's fast-forward to 1944.
"Prime Minister Kuniaki Koiso attends to the Imperial Palace on July 17, 1944 in Tokyo."

Amazing photo and not only because of the rare Illustrious Dragon breast star.
In fact our general is wearing three classes of Golden Kite order simultaneously.

"May Wear Both Classes of Order of Golden Kite Simultaneously": Two Kites on One Man Chest

"Those who have received the Order of the Golden Kite, and again received a higher grade, may wear both" Imperial Edict No. 726 of June 28, 1941 “Those who have received the Order of the Golden Kite, and again received the same grade, shall wear both” Imperial Edict No. 657 of September 26...

asiamedals.info

Second class breast star (received in 1934).
Third class neck badge (received in 1920).
Forth class badge in the medal bar (received on April 1, 1906 for the Russo-Japanese war).

It doesn`t even matter if he is wearing neck badge and breast star as a full 2nd class set that was awarded to him before 1942.
It`s 1944 and 2nd class (for two years already) consists only of a breast star + in ribbon bars he wore all three classes (see photo below).

 

With 9 place ribbon bar.

With 20 place ribbon bar (note three kite ribbons).

 

"Prime Minister Kuniaki Koiso attends a live radio broadcasting on August 8, 1944 in Tokyo".

 

"Prime Minister Kuniaki Koiso addresses his policy speech at the House of Peers of the diet on September 7, 1944 in Tokyo".

 

March 1934.

 

With only one Sacred Treasure breast star.