The Order of the Precious Crown (or 宝冠章 Hōkan-shō in Japanese) was established on January 4, 1888, by Emperor Meiji. It’s the lowest ranking of the Japanese orders currently awarded and conventionally reserved for female recipients (such as female members of the royal family).
Until 2003, the Order of the Precious Crown ranked below the Order of the Rising Sun but above the Order of the Sacred Treasure, and was bestowed as a female-only version of the Order of the Rising Sun. The Order of the Precious Crown is now only bestowed upon female members of the Imperial Family and foreign ladies of distinction.
Originally the order had five classes, but on April 13, 1896, the sixth, seventh, and eighth classes were added. Unlike many European counterparts can be awarded posthumously.
The Order of the Precious Crown is given by the Emperor of Japan at the monarch’s pleasure and, since 2003, no longer uses numbers to represent rank.
The Classes of the Order of the Precious Crown
The Order of the Precious Crown had eight classes (today, it has six. The 7th and 8th classes were abolished in 2003). The First Class is usually awarded to female royalty or, occasionally, to the royal family in foreign countries. This typically happens when necessary for diplomatic ceremonies.
These are the ribbon bars of the order:
Grand Cordon, Paulownia 
Second Class, Peony
Third Class, Butterfly
Fourth Class, Wisteria
Fifth Class, Apricot
Sixth Class, Ripples
Seventh Class, Medal
Eighth Class, Medal
The Order of the Precious Crown Badge Design
The badge of the order is a gold oval medallion with floral designs at its four ends. Aat the centre is an ancient Japanese crown on a blue background, surrounded by a red ring. It is suspended from a smaller badge, its design varies according to class.
The ribbon of the Order of the Precious Crown is yellow with red stripes near the borders. For the 1st class, a sash is worn on the right shoulder (all other classes use a bow on the left shoulder).
The star of the order is worn only by the first class and has five rays studded with pearls, with floral designs between the rays. The central disc features a Ho-o or phoenix on a blue background, surrounded by a red ring emblazoned with a laurel wreath.
The medal for the 6th and 7th classes is golden bronze. The face presents the crossed flags of Japan and the Emperor, both surmounted by the Rising Sun. The obverse presents a conventional monumental shaft flanked by a branch of laurel and a palm branch.
