Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon

In addition, the JSDF could not gain opportunity to participate battle because it is prohibited by Chapter 9 of the Constitution of Japan.

Just after the JSDF was established in 1954, there were some officials who had military decorations and ribbon bars awarded by Imperial Japanese Armed Forces, that they wore in formal ceremony.

On April 1, 1982, the system for Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbons was established to keep balance of looking between Japanese and foreign servicemen.

If the foreign orders and/or decorations are awarded to officers, these take precedence over the ribbon bars and are required to be placed above them.

Some ribbon bars (marked as grey) still exist, but it is impossible to meet their requirements as either the organizations in question have been abolished or the missions have been finished.