It's interesting to see the traces of the change from 1st lieutenant to captain!   Usually, the metal stars are attached parallel to the gold line. But in this case it's parallel to the jacket or the ground.   Perhaps that's what happened when he replaced stars.

Ah!  I see what you mean now! Thanks for clearing that up.  Looking at this close-up crop, can see something of the original gold color.  And I also think I'm seeing evidence of two stars having been replaced with three due to a promotion.     

Many thanks. Yes this one's out of the collection now. 

In reality, for officers, the yellow parts in the illustration are gold.   The bullion in your jacket has tarnished over time, giving the impression that it is a different color.

Whenever I search the web for images of IJA ranks, I always find that the images show patches with red and yellow, like the one below.  But the insignia on my tunic and the ones on Allan's tunic are red and olive green.  I assume this change happened in some particular year, but don't know when.  Where the yellow and red rank insignia used prior to 1938?    

I too find it difficult to identify the name. However, I get the impression that it is Tanioka. I think the four letters lined up above the “谷” in the third image your student showed are the type of letters embroidered on your jacket.   Could you please explain more specifically about the question about the color of the rank insignia? To me it looks like a regular collar insignia established in 1938.

Great piece.  Rich A. in Pa.

This one I do not like very much.  Reaction to black light is not a good sign.  It also appears it once had a pip that has been removed.    

This one I'm thinking is fake as the cotton holding the braids together glows under black light. Can anyone confirm this, or otherwise please? Thank you

Many thanks that's nice to know. I only have a small SS collection and this is one of my favourite objects. There is a small gilt area at the bottom of the 1

I don't see any red flags.  It looks like original tunic removed insignia to me.   Theoretically the #1 should be gilt but any gilt may have been worn away.  I have also seen alum enlisted numbers on officer boards before.