The government said Wednesday it will simplify the ranks of honors it gives individuals for distinguished achievement and make them gender-neutral to try to improve the system.
The decision by the Cabinet will halve the number of honors given from 12 to six by equalizing the ranks in the Order of the Rising Sun and the Order of the Sacred Treasure.
Each of the six ranks in the Order of the Rising Sun now comes on top of the corresponding rank in the other order, effectively creating 12 ranks in all.