Original Items: One-of-a-kind set. This is a very rare set of an original Imperial Japanese Order of the Rising Sun; 6th Class featuring Silver and enamels, centre red glass cabochon, and green enamel Paulonia flowers suspension, original ribbon with hook and eye.

April 25th, 1940 dated award document which measures 23.5" x 16.5" and is clearly dated in kanji  昭 和 十 五 年 四 月 二 十 五 日 - Showa 15 4th Month 25th Day =  April 25 1940.

Finally a CERTIFICATE OF PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF SOUVENIRS dated 15 June 1945 and named to PFC George L. Norton. The souvenir listed is "DOCUMENT".

Overall a really wonderful bring back collection from the Pacific theater of World War Two.

The Order of the Rising Sun (旭日章, Kyokujitsu-shō) is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government,[1] created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun. The design of the Rising Sun symbolizes energy as powerful as the rising sun in parallel with the "rising sun" concept of Japan ("Land of the Rising Sun").

The order is awarded to those who have made distinguished achievements in international relations, promotion of Japanese culture, advancements in their field, development in welfare or preservation of the environment. Prior to the end of World War II, it was also awarded for exemplary military service.

While it is the third highest order bestowed by the Japanese government, it is however generally the highest ordinarily conferred order. The highest Japanese order, the Order of the Chrysanthemum, is reserved for heads of state or royalty, while the second highest order, the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, is mostly reserved for politicians.

The star for the Grand Cordon and Second Class is a silver star of eight points, each point having three alternating silver rays; the central emblem is identical to the badge. It is worn on the left chest for the Grand Cordon, on the right chest for the 2nd Class.

The badge for the Grand Cordon to Sixth Classes is an eight-pointed badge bearing a central red enamelled sun disc, with gilt points (1st–4th Classes), with four gilt and four silver points (5th Class), or with silver points (6th Class); each point comprises three white enamelled rays. It is suspended from three enamelled paulownia leaves (not chrysanthemum leaves as the Decoration Bureau page claims) on a ribbon in white with red border stripes, worn as a sash from the right shoulder for the Grand Cordon, as a necklet for the 2nd and 3rd Classes and on the left chest for the 4th to 6th Classes (with a rosette for the 4th Class).