Kousho badge - Type 4
Published on March 06, 2019
This is the Public Service Wound version of the fourth type of the Japanese Wound Badge.
The badge
The badge differs from the higher Battle Wound version of the award in that the kanji displayed in the centre of the reverse of the badge spells Kousho and this translates to Public Service Wound. This badge was presented for wounds not sustained in battle and mostly given for illness, such as malaria.
Badge obverse
Badge reverse
Case
The case of the award is made from paulownia wood and the kanji embossed on it translates to “Soldier’s Wound Badge”. The same kanji is mirrored on the reverse of the badge and displayed on the outer circle of the badge, from the 4 o’clock position and then read counter clockwise.
The kanji on the inside of the case top translates to “Japanese Mint”.
This type of the badge was instituted in 1938 and could be awarded to any rank.