Honors system - honors system

Japanese: 栄典制度 - えいてんせいど

A system of special status given under national law to honor those who have made distinguished contributions to society. During the time of the Constitution of the Empire of Japan, there were peerages, ranks, medals, and commendations, and the awarding of these was the prerogative of the Emperor (Article 15). For a while under the Constitution of Japan, only the Order of Culture was awarded, but in 1963, a Cabinet decision was made to resume the awarding of living medals in the spring of 1964. Honors are awarded by the Emperor with the advice and approval of the Cabinet (Article 7, Clause 7 of the Constitution), but some are awarded by other national institutions and local governments. (1) Medals Today's system of awards is mainly based on the Cabinet decision of 1963, but the specific regulations for awards are based on the Dajokan proclamations, imperial edicts, and imperial orders. The system of awards and medals that is still in effect today was started by Dajokan Proclamation No. 54 of 1875 (regarding the establishment of medals). The current awards are the Grand Order of the Chrysanthemum, the Grand Cordon of the Paulownia Flowers, the Order of the Rising Sun, and the Order of the Sacred Treasure, and are awarded twice a year in spring and autumn. In addition, the Order of the Precious Crown is awarded only to women on special occasions, such as ceremonial awards to foreigners. (2) Medals The current awards are based on the Daijokan Proclamation No. 63 of 1881 (Medal Ordinance). Initially, there were only three types of awards: the Medal with Red Ribbon for those who devoted themselves to saving lives at the risk of personal danger, the Medal with Green Ribbon for those with outstanding virtue, and the Medal with Blue Ribbon for those who promoted public interest. Later, Imperial Ordinance No. 349 of 1918 added the Medal with Red Ribbon to those who devoted themselves to business and other endeavors. Furthermore, Imperial Ordinance No. 349 of the same year established the award of the Dark Blue Ribbon Medal to those who contributed their personal assets to the public interest, and Cabinet Order No. 7 of 1955 established the award of the Yellow Ribbon Medal to those who devoted themselves to their work, and the Purple Ribbon Medal to those who had made outstanding achievements in the arts and sciences.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

社会に対する功労者の栄誉を表彰するために国法上与えられる特殊な地位に関する制度。大日本帝国憲法時代には，爵，位，勲章および褒章があり，その授与は天皇の大権事項であった（15条）。日本国憲法下にいたってしばらくは文化勲章だけが授与されていたが，1963年の閣議決定により翌 1964年春から生存者叙勲が再開された。栄典は，内閣の助言と承認により天皇が授与するが（憲法7条7号），ほかの国家機関や地方公共団体が授与するものもある。(1) 勲章　今日の叙勲制度は主として 1963年の閣議決定によるが，具体的な叙勲の規定はかつての太政官布・達，詔勅，勅令などによっている。今日も施行されているこの叙勲，勲章の制度は明治8年太政官布告54号（勲章制定ノ件）によって始められたものである。現行の叙勲は大勲位菊花章，桐花大綬章，旭日章，瑞宝章の 4種によって春秋 2度行なわれている。ほかに，外国人に対する儀礼叙勲など特別な場合に女性のみに授与される宝冠章がある。(2) 褒章　現行の褒章は明治14年太政官布告63号（褒章条例）によっている。当初，自己の危難を顧みず人命救助に尽くした者に対する紅綬褒章，徳行の卓絶した者に対する緑綬褒章，公衆の利益を興した者に対する藍綬褒章の 3種のみであったが，のち大正7年勅令349号で紅綬褒章に実業に精励した者などが加えられた。また，同勅令349号で公益のために私財を供した者に対する紺綬褒章が，昭和30年政令7号によって業務に精励した者に対する黄綬褒章，学芸上の事績の著しい者に対する紫綬褒章が新設された。

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