Japanese Army Gunzoku shoulder board, chokunin (second grade) rank: Brigadier Thomas Eastick, Commander, Kuching Force

A rectangular shoulder board covered in green wool twill, featuring three five-pointed gold bullion thread stars mounted in the lower third of the board in a triangular pattern and a 3 mm thick, high relief gold plated brass chrysanthanum button attached at the apex. The base is lined with polished leather, to which has been mounted a hinged, chrome-plated metal arm and catch for attached to the wearer's tunic.

A shoulder board worn by a second grade "Gunzoku", or militarised personnel of the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces. "Gunzoku" was a remnant of the old Japanese court system, which incorporated a civilianised ranking system. "Chokunin" was the second grade order, and equated to the military ranks of lieutenant general and major general; "Honin" was the third grade and included the equivalent of major, colonel and lieutenant colonel, while "Hannin" covered captains, warrant officers and NCOs. The Gunzoku system appears to have applied to foreign nationals either impressed into, or volunteering for Japanese service, as well as Japanese personnel who may not have been otherwise eligible for service due to age, illness or other factors, or simply a civilian in military employment. Many Gunzoku, for example, were used as prison guards, clerks and drivers, thus freeing up many men for active service.