Instituted in 1888. In silver with red, white and blue enamels, measuring 46 mm (w) x 50.5 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally-pierced ball suspension, intact enamels, on its original ribbon with hook and eye, very light contact, near extremely fine. Accompanied by its 13 mm (w) x 13 mm (h) Rosette with button hole attachment, in its balsa wood box of issue, gilt characters and red stamping on the lid, lightly soiled insert with a raised platform and recessed medal bed, box better than very fine.
Footnote: The forerunner of the Japanese Red Cross Society, the Hakuaisha (Philanthropic Society) was founded in 1877 by Court Tsunetami Sano, to help those who were wounded in the Satsuma Rebellion earlier that year. Japan signed the Geneva Convention in 1886 and in the following year, the Hakuaisha changed its name to the Japanese Red Cross Society (Nippon Sekijujisha). It was recognized as such by the International Committee on the Red Crosson September 2, 1887. The medal was established in 1888 and comes in five classes: Member, Special Member, Life Member, Golden Special Member and Honorary Member.