J. R. Wasson

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J.R. Wasson (1855-1913)[1] was the first non-Japanese to be honored with an award of the Order of the Rising Sun, a Japanese Order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan.

The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government.[2] It is the second most prestigious Japanese decoration after the Order of the Chrysanthemum.[3] The order, a civilian and military decoration, has been awarded over four million times in any grade.[4]

A number of others have been traditionally known as the very first non-Japanese to be awarded the Order of the Rising Sun. However, that singular honor actually belongs to U.S. Army Col. J.R. Wasson who, according to the New York Times, was given "the decoration of the Rising Sun, of the Imperial Order of Meiji, a distinction no other foreigner ever enjoyed." The Times reported that U.S. President Grant sent the colonel to Japan as a military instructor; and Wasson actually commanded Japanese troops during an 1874 punitive expedition against Formosa. In 1875, he was recognized by Emperor Meiji as a consequence of his conduct during this minor military campaign.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mount Herman Cemetery - Pettis County, Missouri
  2. ^ Rising Sun
  3. ^ http://www.cao.go.jp/about_e/pmf2006/p28.pdf
  4. ^ www.xavierb.net
  5. ^ "A Victory for the Chinese; Japanese Driven with Heavy Loss from Ping-yang", New York Times, August 22, 1894.

[edit] External links

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