Interesting, that the inscription at the box lid reads "Aiguillete of Kokumin-Fuku and
Hakko Ichiu" which means that these cords were used as element of so called national uniform for japanese males during 1940-1945.
A nice article about this Hakko Ichiu "movement" http://en.wikipedia....ki/HakkÅ_ichiu
Looks like these cords were introduced by order # 725 from November 1, 1940 as element of formal male dress.
Additional elements such as family/society crest/emblem were allowed and could be added to the base cord.
Check out this japanese wiki article http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%BD%E6%B0%91%E6%9C%8D%E5%84%80%E7%A4%BC%E7%AB%A0
I think the mystery of these cords is solved.
It`s not a decoration, but the element of the formal dress that was used during official ceremonies of these Hakko Ichiu and National Spiritual Mobilization movements.
It could be freely purchased in the shopes.
The knot in the form of rectangle represents universal brotherhood.
Am I one cob-scout or what?
Cheers,
Nick