Medal - Visit of Crown Prince Hirohito to Europe

Reverse

Battleship Katori with doves to either side, date above, superimposed over a globe.

Edge

Osaka mintmark

Comment

In 1920 the Crown Prince Hirohito was promoted to the rank of Major in the army and Lieutenant Commander in the navy. In 1921, from March 3 until September 3, Hirohito took a six-month tour of Europe onboard the battleship Katori, including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium. He was the first Japanese crown prince to travel abroad. After his return to Japan at the age of 20 he became Regent of Japan on November 25, 1921, in place of his ailing father who was affected by a mental illness. The Katori was the lead ship of the two pre-dreadnought battleships designed and built for the Empire of Japan by the British shipyard Vickers. The ship was disarmed and scrapped by 1925 in accordance with the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. This medal also exists in silver.