Dai-gensui (grand marshal; literally "great marshal" (大元帥)) was the highest rank of the Greater Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy from the 1870s to 1945, when the Empire of Japan was dissolved. Only ever held by the Emperor of Japan as commander-in-chief of the Empire, the rank was equivalent to a generalissimo or general of the armies (a six-star rank), and senior to the rank of gensui ("marshal"). It formally became obsolete in 1947 when the Imperial Japanese armed forces were abolished.
History[]
Decree No. 252 by the Dajokan, dated 7 September 1872 first made formal mention of the rank of dai-gensui; however, no appointments to the rank were made before the rank was abolished along with that of gensui on 8 May 1873. By "Draft Ordinance No. 142" of the Constitution of the Empire of Japan (Chapter 1 Part 1) of 30 September 1889, the Emperor was officially given the rank of dai-gensui and installed as Supreme Commander of the Army and Navy.
Insignia[]
The insignia of a dai-gensui were identical to those of a full general, with the addition of the gold imperial chrysanthemum.
Shoulder: 
Collar: 
List of dai-gensui[]
The holders of this rank were:
| Holder | Lifetime | Time in rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meiji Emperor | 3 November 1852 — 30 July 1912 | 1872-1873; 1889-1912 | |
| Taishō Emperor | 31 August 1879 — 25 December 1926 | 1912-1926 | |
| Shōwa Emperor | 29 April 1901 — 7 January 1989 | 1926-1945 | Held the rank until 15 August 1945 when Japan surrendered to the Allies, rank officially abolished in 1947. |
References[]
- This article incorporates information from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia.
- Donald Keene, Emperor of Japan, Meiji and his World 1852-1912
The original article can be found at Dai-gensui and the edit history here.