Order of the Chrysanthemum

Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
大勲位菊花章
Dai-kun'i kikka-shō
Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
Awarded by the Emperor of Japan
Country Japan
Awarded for Exceptionally meritorious achievement/service
Status Currently constituted
Founder 27 December 1876
Sovereign HM The Emperor
Grades Collar
Grand Cordon
Precedence
Next (higher) None (highest)
Next (lower) Order of the Paulownia Flowers

Ribbon of the Order

The Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (大勲位菊花章, Dai-kun'i kikka-shō) is Japan's highest order. The Grand Cordon of the Order was established in 1876 by Emperor Meiji of Japan; the Collar of the Order was added on 4 January 1888. Unlike its European counterparts, the order may be conferred posthumously.

Apart from the Imperial Family, only seven Japanese citizens have ever been decorated with the collar in their lifetimes; the last such award was to former Prime Minister Saionji Kinmochi in 1928. Eight others have been posthumously decorated with the collar; the last such award was to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022. Today, only the reigning Emperor holds this dignity as sovereign of the order; however, exceptions are made for foreign heads of state, who can be awarded the collar in friendship.

The grand cordon is the highest possible honour a Japanese citizen can be awarded during his or her lifetime. Aside from members of the Imperial Family, 53 Japanese citizens have been decorated with the grand cordon; of these, only 23 were living at the time of receipt.

Insignia

The collar of the order is made of gold, and features the kanji for "Meiji", in classic form, indicating the era of the order's establishment. It is decorated with gold chrysanthemum blossoms and green-enamelled leaves.

The sash of the grand cordon of the order is red with dark blue border stripes. It is worn on the right shoulder.

The star of the order is similar to the badge, but in silver, without the chrysanthemum suspension, and with an eight-pointed gilt medallion (with white-enamelled rays and red-enamelled sun disc) placed at the centre. It is worn on the left chest.

The badge of the order is a four-pointed gilt badge with white-enamelled rays; the centre bears a red enamelled sun disc. On each of the four corners of the badge is a yellow-enamelled chrysanthemum blossom with green-enamelled chrysanthemum leaves. The badge is suspended on a yellow-enamelled chrysanthemum, either on the collar or on the grand cordon.

Ribbon bars

Collar
Grand Cordon

Grades

Name and image Enactment date Purpose of the award
大勲位菊花章頸飾(だいくんい きっかしょう けいしょく)
Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
 4 January 1888 It is said to be "a special gift for those decorated with the Supreme Order."
大勲位菊花大綬章(だいくんい きっか だいじゅしょう)
Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum

badge (top), star (bottom right), rosette (bottom left)
 27 December 1876 "Specially awarded... to those who have excellent merit, above the merit for which the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun or the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasures would be awarded".
大勲位菊花章(だいくんい きっかしょう)
Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
 27 December 1876 It has never been awarded on its own, instead it has been treated as the star of the Grand Cordon and of the Collar;

officially incorporated as the star of both grades in the 2003 institutional reform.

Sovereigns

Information from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia
  • Emperor Meiji (Sovereign from 27 December 1876)
  • Emperor Taishō (Grand Cordon 3 November 1889; Collar 10 May 1900; Sovereign from 30 July 1912)
  • Emperor Shōwa (Grand Cordon 9 September 1912; Collar as Regent 24 September 1921; Sovereign from 25 December 1926)
  • Emperor Akihito (Grand Cordon 10 November 1952; Sovereign from 7 January 1989 to 30 April 2019)
  • Emperor Naruhito (Grand Cordon 23 February 1980; Sovereign since 1 May 2019)

Awards of the Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum to members of the Imperial Family and royalty

Information from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

Awards made to imperial princes while living

Posthumous awards to imperial princes

Posthumous award to foreign royalty

Awards of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum to members of the Imperial Family and royalty

Information from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

Awards made to imperial princes while living

Posthumous awards to imperial princes

Awards to foreign royalty

Ordinary awards of the Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum

Marshal-Admiral Marquis Tōgō Heihachirō, with the Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum. Tōgō was one of only seven subjects to whom the Collar was awarded while living.
Information incorporated from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

Awards made to living individuals

Posthumous awards

* : Awarded with the Grand Cordon

Ordinary awards of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum

Incorporates information from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

Awards made to living recipients

Marquis Saigō Tsugumichi
* : Later awarded the Collar
⁑ : Posthumously awarded the Collar

Posthumous awards

Masayoshi Ōhira
* : Awarded with the Collar

Foreign recipients of the Order of the Chrysanthemum

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Collar

Grand Cordon

Collar (deceased)

Queen Elizabeth II
Dwight D. Eisenhower

Grand Cordon (deceased)

Benito Mussolini

See also