Ribbon: White with yellow edge stripes.
Instituted: 4 January 1888.
Awarded: For civil or military merit.
Grades: Origninally 8 - the lowest two classes being abolished in 2003.
Class 1: Badge |
![Class 1: Badge, Obverse Class 1: Badge, Obverse](images/japan031.jpg) |
![Class 1: Badge, Reverse Class 1: Badge, Reverse](images/japan032.jpg) |
Class 1: Star |
![Class 1: Star, Obverse Class 1: Star, Obverse](images/japan033.jpg) |
![Class 1: Star, Reverse Class 1: Star, Reverse](images/japan034.jpg) |
Class 2: Badge |
Sorry - no picture of obverse |
Sorry - no picture of reverse |
Class 2: Star |
![Class 2: Star, Obverse Class 2: Star, Obverse](images/japan035.jpg) |
![Class 2: Star, Reverse Class 2: Star, Reverse](images/japan036.jpg) |
Class 3 |
![Class 3, Obverse Class 3, Obverse](images/japan029.jpg) |
![Class 3, Reverse Class 3, Reverse](images/japan030.jpg) |
Class 4 |
Sorry - no picture of obverse |
Sorry - no picture of reverse |
Class 5 |
Sorry - no picture of obverse |
Sorry - no picture of reverse |
Class 6 |
Sorry - no picture of obverse |
Sorry - no picture of reverse |
Class 7 |
Sorry - no picture of obverse |
Sorry - no picture of reverse |
Class 8 |
Sorry - no picture of obverse |
Sorry - no picture of reverse |