Japanese Pin Identification & Rising Sun Question

[ErwinRommel1940]

Hello all,

I have a couple of questions:

1.) What are the two pins? I’m guessing some sort of association, but I couldn’t find anything based on my limited knowledge.

2.) The Rising Sun 8th Class is not made of sterling silver as all other examples I’ve seen, but rather some type pot metal. In addition, the Kanji on the case is in red, not silver or gold. Fake? Late war production? Something else?

Thanks for the help!

[JapanX]

2.) The Rising Sun 8th Class is not made of sterling silver as all other examples I’ve seen, but rather some type pot metal. In addition, the Kanji on the case is in red, not silver or gold. Fake? Late war production? Something else?

Kanji were silver ones.
They always look that way after they worn out a little bit.

Sun looks ok.
Did you test it for silver?

[JapanX]

Badge with suspension is the 1920 census worker badge.

[ErwinRommel1940]

Hi JapanX, thanks for the help with the pin!

I have not tested it for silver, but based on weight and comparing it to the ten other examples I have, I can say with 99% certainty that its not silver.