There is absolutely no record of any "contract" Lugers being produced for Japan, so the addition of the marking some time after it was produced can be considered a dead certainty. John Sabato's and others observations that the markings are post factory are, in my opinion, very valid. Ed Tinker's reference to the chrysanthemum being a very restricted marking is an opinion that is held by advanced Japanese militaria collectors, some even going so far as to indicate that it would be a punishable offense if performed in Japan. But, that doesn't mean that it couldn't have had official "imperial" authorization and records have not survived. It is just a big unknown. As to my personal opinion, I believe I will just remain mum on the issue.
