Military of Japan | |
---|---|
Service branches |
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force |
Manpower | |
Military age | 18 to 27 years of age |
Available for military service |
27,003,112 males, age 18–49 (2005 est.), 26,153,482 females, age 18–49 (2005 est.) |
Fit for military service |
22,234,663 males, age 18–49 (2005 est.), 21,494,947 females, age 18–49 (2005 est.) |
Reaching military age annually |
683,147 males (2005 est.), 650,157 females (2005 est.) |
Active personnel | 239,000 (ranked 24th) |
Expenditures | |
Budget | $44.3 billion (2005) |
Percent of GDP | 1% (2004) |
After World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy were dissolved by the United States during the occupation of Japan. The symbols below represent the ranks of the Japanese Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force which have, since 1952, replaced the imperial military. The 1938–1945 Japanese military and naval ranks were phased out after World War II. The Self Defense Force breaks away from the Sino-centric tradition of non-branch-specified ranks, each SDF rank with respect to each service carries a distinct Japanese title, although equivalent titles in different branches are still similar, differing only in the use of the morphemes riku (ground) for the army ranks, kai (sea) for the naval ranks, and kuu (air) for the aviation ranks.
The pentagramic stars on some insignia represent cherry blossoms. Because Japanese soldiers take an oath to die to protect the lives and wealth of Japanese citizens, they have been compared to delicate cherry blossoms that break easily.
Ground Self-Defense Force[]
Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.
Insignia | Sergeant Major (曹長) |
Master Sergeant (1曹) |
Sergeant First Class (2曹) |
Sergeant (3曹) |
Corporal (士長) |
Private First Class (1士) |
Private (2士) |
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Type A (甲階級章) |
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Type B (乙階級章) |
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Miniature (略章) |
Maritime Self-Defense Force[]
Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.
Air Self-Defense Force[]
Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.
Insignia | Senior Master Sergeant (曹長) |
Master Sergeant (1曹) |
Technical Sergeant (2曹) |
Staff Sergeant (3曹) |
Airman 1st Class (士長) |
Airman (1士) |
Airman Basic (2士) |
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Type A (甲階級章) |
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Type B (乙階級章) |
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Miniature (略章) |
See also[]
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military rank insignia of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. |
- The International Encyclopedia of Uniform and Rank Insignia around the World
- Insignia 階級章(自衛隊大阪地方協力本部)(Japanese)
The original article can be found at Military ranks and insignia of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the edit history here.