Military Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Imperial Japanese Military
Empire of Japan
Administration
Imperial General Headquarters
Components
War flag of the Imperial Japanese Army Imperial Japanese Army
(Dai Nippon Teikoku Rikugun)
        Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
        Railways and Shipping Section
    Uniforms
Naval Ensign of Japan Imperial Japanese Navy
(Dai Nippon Teikoku Kaigun)
        Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
        Imperial Japanese Navy Land Forces
    Major battles
    List of ships
    List of aircraft
    Main admirals
Rank insignia
Army rank insignia
Naval rank insignia
History of the Japanese Military
Military History of Japan during World War II

The following tables present the rank insignia of the Japanese military before and during World War II. These designs were worn on shoulders as passants between the years 1911 and 1938, then on collars afterwards until 1945, when the Imperial Japanese Army was dissolved.

The same officer ranks were used for both the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy, the only distinction being the placement of the word Rikugun (Army) or Kaigun (Navy) before the rank. Thus, for example, a Captain in the navy shared the same rank designation as that of a Colonel in the Army-Taisa (Colonel), so the rank of "Rikugun Taisa" denoted an Army Colonel while the rank of "Kaigun Daisa" denoted a Naval Captain.

Officer ranks[]

All-forces ranks Collar insignia
Grand Marshal
Dai-Gensui (大元帥?)
Generalissimo collar rank insignia (Japan)
Marshal General
Gensui Rikugun Taishō (元帥陸軍大将?)
As General, plus enamelled breast badge:
元帥徽章
General
Rikugun Taishō (陸軍大将?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―大将
Lieutenant General
Rikugun Chūjō (陸軍中将?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―中将
Major General
Rikugun Shōshō (陸軍少将?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―少将
Colonel
Rikugun Taisa (陸軍大佐?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―大佐
Lieutenant Colonel
Rikugun Chūsa (陸軍中佐?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―中佐
Major
Rikugun Shōsa (陸軍少佐?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―少佐
Captain
Rikugun Taii (陸軍大尉?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―大尉
First Lieutenant
Rikugun Chūi (陸軍中尉?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―中尉
Second Lieutenant
Rikugun Shōi ( 陸軍少尉?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―少尉
Warrant Officer
Rikugun Jun-i (Army First Officer) (陸軍准尉?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―准尉

Enlisted ranks[]

All-forces ranks Collar insignia
Sergeant Major
Sōchō (曹長?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―曹長
Sergeant
Gunsō (軍曹?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―軍曹
Corporal
Gochō (伍長?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―伍長
Junior Corporal
Gochō Kimmu jōtōhei (伍長勤務上等兵?)
Lance-Corporal
Heichō (兵長?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―兵長
Senior Private
Jōtōhei (上等兵?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―上等兵
Acting Senior Private
Jōtōhei Kimmusha (上等兵勤務者?)
Private 1st Class
Ittōhei (一等兵?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―一等兵
Private; Private 2nd Class
Nitōhei (二等兵?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―二等兵
Recruit

See also[]

External links[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Army ranks of the Japanese Empire during World War II and the edit history here.
Advertisement