J008058 CASED ORDER OF THE RISING SUN, 6TH CLASS. 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. Foreigners, on occasion, could also be bestowed the award. This medal, the sixth of the eight classes, is in the form of a 1 3/4" diameter "sun," in silver, upon which are enameled thirty-two white "rays," eight long with three short separating each, all emanating from a 9/16" diameter, red garnet center. The shortness of the shorter rays establish the medal as having been made after 1940. The reverse is identical to the obverse. The uppermost ray is hinged to a three-lobed spray of jade green enameled Paulownia leaves, outlined and with its veins articulated in silver to the obverse, outlined and with a row of four silver kanji characters to the reverse, which translate to "Order of Merit Decoration." The leaves are surmounted by three sets of purple enameled and silver outlined Paulownia flowers on green stalks, five to the center and three to each side, obverse and reverse. 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, with an elongated, vertical alloy hook to its top, which folds down and mates with an alloy eye sewn near the base of its reverse. The ribbon is noticeably soiled, although the medal itself is relatively bright and retains all of its enamel work. A 7/16" diameter rosette is also included, in red with six red stripes against its depressed, white center, and from whose reverse extends an alloy post which is connected to a blackened alloy "button," 1/2" in diameter. The rosette exhibits very light age soiling. The medal and ribbon are nested into corresponding depressions to the purple velvet interior base of its original presentation case, whose interior lid is lined in padded, purple silk. Both the silk and velvet are in excellent condition. The exterior of the 2 5/8" x 5 3/16" x 1 1/4", black lacquered wooden case has a column of gold painted kanji characters to its cover, the second down being that for the number "6." The stud for a hinged alloy closure device is to its forward edge, although the device itself has dislodged, but is included. A wide alloy hinge is along its rear edge. The exterior of the case exhibits very light surface scratching.

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