A rare document, boldly signed by Emperor Hirohito of Japan, awarding the Order of the Sacred Treasure Grand Cross to a Kyoto university professor — awarded in 1936, five years to the day prior to Pearl Harbor by Emperor Hirohito of Japan - [December 7, 1936]

[Tokyo], [December 7, 1936]. 23.5" x 18". "Document Signed as Emperor of Japan, 1 page, 23.5"" x 18"", [Tokyo] Showa 11th Year [December 7, 1936] conferring the Order of the Sacred Treasure Grand Cross to Tetsutaro Inoue of Kyoto University. Neatly rolled and housed in its original wooden presentation box. Document bears some mild creasing toward margins, extremely light but even toning, else fine condition. The box bears some minor external wear, with the lid missing one small section.
A magnificent and attractive award document bearing a large and bold signature by Emperor Hirohito Offered together with three Sacred Treasure of the Grand Cross medals (two accompanied by their corresponding lapel pins) each housed in an exquisite lacquered box.
Emperor Meiji of Japan established the order in 1888 (originally called the Order of Meiji), and the honor is bestowed upon those who have made significant contributions to academic and scientific research, healthcare, social work, and government.
Hirohito signed this document at a formative period in Japanese history. Within seven months, Japan would invade China, beginning the Second Sino-Japanese War. The war, which saw the Japanese occupation of Shanghai and the capital at Nanking, resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of soldiers and civilians. The war would continue for several years, until, with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the conflict became subsumed in the Second World War."