The history of Japan during the Imperial Age, 1868 to 1945, is rich and
complex. Japan went from a feudal and secluded Asian nation to a world
powerhouse in less than fifty years. Japan's relationship with the
United States was just as complicated, moving from reluctant trading
partner to ally in war to enemy. The documents from this era are a piece
of that history. This book is an introduction to the field of collecting
Japanese award documents. Over sixty-five documents are featured in
color photographs that highlight their beauty and details. The documents
range from awards given to farmers for growing crops to the Grand Cordon
of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, signed by the emperor and
given to a prime minister. The book also features tools to help the
collector translate and identify documents, as well as to store and
display them.