J008158 CASED ORDER OF THE RISING SUN, 7TH 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 seventh of the eight classes, is in the form of 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 very lightly soiled, although the medal is relatively bright and retains all of its enamel work. A 7/16" diameter rosette is also included, in red with four red stripes against its depressed, white center, and from whose reverse extends an alloy post which is connected to a blackened alloy "button," 9/16" in diameter. The rosette exhibits the lightest of age soiling. The medal and ribbon are nested into corresponding depressions to the dark blue velvet interior base of its original presentation case, whose interior lid is lined in padded, purple silk. Both the silk and velvet exhibit the expected, light age and usage wear. The exterior of the 2 3/8" x 3 3/4" x 7/8", black lacquered wooden case has a column of gold painted kanji characters to its cover, the second down and to the right being that for the number "7." A hinged alloy closure device and corresponding stud is to its forward edge, and a wide alloy hinge is along its rear edge. It appears that the cover had become unglued, and had been repaired, as glue remnants may be seen along its top and right edges. The case has small nicks to its base, but is otherwise only lightly age soiled.

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