Lieutenant General Kameji Wada Photo Japanese Order of Sacred Treasure c1925 IJA
Size: approximately4.2 inches by 3.1 inches
This is an original, period-accurate silver gelatin portrait photograph of Lieutenant General Kameji Wada (和田亀治) of the Imperial Japanese Army, dating to c1925, an authentic piece of early Shōwa era militaria featuring a classic oval vignette matte finish. It shows the general in his formal high-collar uniform, complete with his visor cap and official insignia. Individual portrait prints of identified high-ranking Imperial Japanese Army generals from this specific interwar period are notably rare on the market, as most remaining examples are held in institutional archives or private family collections.
The photograph provides a crisp, clear view of several highly significant military decorations. Pinned prominently to his left breast pocket is the multi-rayed star plaque of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, an honor he received for his long and distinguished service to the empire. On his right breast pocket, the general wears the highly exclusive Imperial Japanese Army War College Graduation Badge, a five-pointed star design that was strictly limited to elite staff officers who completed the rigorous academy curriculum. The horizontal placement of three stars on his gold and red shoulder boards signifies his rank of Lieutenant General, a title he achieved through decades of dedicated administrative and field leadership.
Born in 1869, Kameji Wada had a distinguished military career spanning the late Meiji, Taishō, and early Shōwa eras. He graduated from the 11th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1899 and later completed the elite 17th class of the Army War College in December 1903. Over his decades of service, he held several high-level command positions, including serving as the administrative head and regent of the Army War College during World War I, where he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd Class in 1920. His active career culminated with his appointment as the commander of the prestigious 1st Division from 1927 to 1929, an elite Tokyo-based command, before he officially entered the reserve list in 1930.
Given the photographic styling, this portrait was likely captured around 1925, a date that perfectly aligns with his tenure at the height of his military influence and his appearance in the 1925 Military Special Grand Maneuvers Commemorative Book. It is highly likely that this specific print was produced by an official photographic studio in Tokyo to be distributed to staff colleagues, family members, or classmates from his elite War College generation. The photo remains in excellent vintage condition with no major tears or heavy silvering, making it a premium addition to any collection focusing on the leadership of the pre-World War II Japanese Empire.
Those most interested in this photo:
- Collectors specializing in early Shōwa and Taishō era Japanese militaria
- Historians researching the elite command structure of the Imperial Japanese Army
- Biographical researchers tracking the life and military career of Lieutenant General Kameji Wada
- Insignia enthusiasts seeking clear photographic examples of the Army War College Graduation Badge
- Archivists compiling visual records of pre-WWII Japanese military uniforms and headgear
- Ancestry and family history researchers focusing on the 17th graduating class of the Tokyo War College
Please inspect the pictures, as they give the best representation of condition. May have discoloring, edge or corner wear, marks, creases, fading, smudges, corner or edge bends, tears, or corners missing.
(Inventory #H19)
Related Items:
U.S MILITARY LIEUTENANT GENERAL SILVER THREE STAR COLLAR INSIGNIA PIN LAPEL
$12.95
US Air Force Epaulet: Lieutenant General- male
$44.87
Collar Device Rank Pins Lieutenant General ~ 3 Gold Stars on a Bar ~ Small ~ NEW
$4.96
