Description
The Order of the Rising Sun (“Kyokujitsusho”), established in 1875 as Japan’s first national decoration, could be awarded to either military or civilian personnel for meritorious service. There were eight classes to this order, of which only the lowest two were given to enlisted personnel. This medal, the eighth of the eight classes, is in the form of a three-lobed spray of silver Paulownia leaves, with its veins articulated to the obverse, and with a row of four kanji characters to the reverse, which translate to “Order of Merit Decoration.” The leaves are surmounted by three sets of silver Paulownia flowers on stalks, five to the center and three to each side. Through a perforated ball atop the uppermost, central flower passes the ribbon’s suspension ring. Fed unto the ring is a 1 7/16″ wide watered silk ribbon, in white with crimson edges.
