Here is a good Japanese blog post with photo examples showing the buttons on an enlisted and an officer Class III tunic. If you search "三種軍装 下士官兵" (enlisted/PO Class III uniform) you will see pretty much all of them have the style of flat buttons with the sakura in the center that SHEMP H's tunic has, as well as many ones with wood or plastic-like buttons. I've also seen quite a few period photos of enlisted men wearing ones with domed metal buttons, but I haven't found a good picture of a surviving example, so I'm unsure if they have the sakura on the top of the anchor or the middle. I propose that either regulations changed around 1944 for buttons or as previously stated they were less selective with buttons due to material shortages.
寛永第一衣糧廠:日本海軍 下士官兵略衣(昭19制)その4及び下士官兵第三種軍装着装写真
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