After relinquishing office, the prime minister is normally accorded the second or senior third rank in the court order of precedence, and is usually raised to the senior second rank posthumously. Certain distinguished prime ministers have been posthumously raised to the first rank; the last such award was to Eisaku Sato in 1975. Since the 1920s, following their tenure in office, Prime ministers have typically been conferred with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers (until 2003 a special higher class of the Order of the Rising Sun), depending on tenure and eminence. However, honours may be withheld due to misconduct or refusal on the part of the prime minister (for example, Kiichi Miyazawa).
After relinquishing office the prime minister is normally accorded the second or senior third rank in the court order of precedence and is usually raised to the senior second rank posthumously Certain distinguished prime ministers have been posthumously raised to the first rank; the last such award was to Eisaku Sato in 1975 Since the 1920s following their tenure in office Prime ministers have typically been conferred with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers (until 2003 a special higher class of the Order of the Rising Sun) depending on tenure and eminence However honours may be withheld due to misconduct or refusal on the part of the prime minister (for example Kiichi Miyazawa)