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The "mum" is the easy one. It is the "mon", the equivalent of a European coat of arms, of the Japanese imperial family. In recent times, it has been used as a national symbol, but it really is a family symbol and is authorized for use only by members of the imperial family. So the "mum" on a Japanese rifle meant that it was the personal property of the Emperor who, it will be recalled, was considered a deity, and the soldier who carried the rifle was honored to be considered a servant of the Emperor.
It is akin to the use of the royal crown on English rifles, which has somewhat the same meaning, though the English monarch has never been considered a god. (A few rather acted like they were, but that is another story.)
The concentric rings, as best I can find out, meant the rifle was the property of the educational system and was for use by the equivalent of our ROTC. Training rifles, as non-weapons, had neither, nor did pistols.
Jim
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