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Military of Japan
Flag of JSDF
Service branches

Flag of JSDF Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Naval Ensign of Japan Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

Japan Air Self-Defense Force roundel Japan Air 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.

Officer & Warrant Officer
(幹部・准尉)
Insignia General
(統合・陸上
幕僚長)
Lieutenant
General
(将)
Major
General
(将補)
Colonel
(1佐)
Lieutenant
Colonel
(2佐)
Major
(3佐)
Captain
(1尉)
First
Lieutenant
(2尉)
Second
Lieutenant
(3尉)
Warrant
Officer
(准尉)
Type A
(甲階級章)
JGSDF General insignia (a) JGSDF Lieutenant General insignia (a) JGSDF Major General insignia (a) JGSDF Colonel insignia (a) JGSDF Lieutenant Colonel insignia (a) JGSDF Major insignia (a) JGSDF Captain insignia (a) JGSDF First Lieutenant insignia (a) JGSDF Second Lieutenant insignia (a) JGSDF Warrant Officer insignia (a)
Type B
(乙階級章)
JGSDF General insignia (b) JGSDF Lieutenant General insignia (b) JGSDF Major General insignia (b) JGSDF Colonel insignia (b) JGSDF Lieutenant Colonel insignia (b) JGSDF Major insignia (b) JGSDF Captain insignia (b) JGSDF First Lieutenant insignia (b) JGSDF Second Lieutenant insignia (b) JGSDF Warrant Officer insignia (b)
Miniature
(略章)
JGSDF General insignia (miniature) JGSDF Lieutenant General insignia (miniature) JGSDF Major General insignia (miniature) JGSDF Colonel insignia (miniature) JGSDF Lieutenant Colonel insignia (miniature) JGSDF Major insignia (miniature) JGSDF Captain insignia (miniature) JGSDF First Lieutenant insignia (miniature) JGSDF Second Lieutenant insignia (miniature) JGSDF Warrant Officer insignia (miniature)
Enlisted
(曹・士)
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)
Type A
(甲階級章)
JGSDF Sergeant Major insignia (a) JGSDF Master Sergeant insignia (a) JGSDF Sergeant First Class insignia (a) JGSDF Sergeant insignia (a) JGSDF Leading Private insignia (a) JGSDF Private First Class insignia (a) JGSDF Private insignia (a)
Type B
(乙階級章)
JGSDF Sergeant Major insignia (b) JGSDF Master Sergeant insignia (b) JGSDF Sergeant First Class insignia (b) JGSDF Sergeant insignia (b) JGSDF Leading Private insignia (b) JGSDF Private First Class insignia (b) JGSDF Private insignia (b)
Miniature
(略章)
JGSDF Sergeant Major insignia (miniature) JGSDF Master Sergeant insignia (miniature) JGSDF Sergeant First Class insignia (miniature) JGSDF Sergeant insignia (miniature) JGSDF Leading Private insignia (miniature) JGSDF Private First Class insignia (miniature) JGSDF Private insignia (miniature)

Maritime Self-Defense Force[]

Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.

Officer & Warrant Officer
(幹部・准尉)
Insignia Admiral
(統合・海上
幕僚長)
Vice
Admiral
(将)
Rear
Admiral
(将補)
Captain
(1佐)
Commander
(2佐)
Lieutenant
Commander
(3佐)
Lieutenant
(1尉)
Lieutenant
Junior Grade
(2尉)
Ensign
(3尉)
Warrant
Officer
(准尉)
Type A
(甲階級章)
JMSDF Admiral insignia (a) JMSDF Vice Admiral insignia (a) JMSDF Rear Admiral insignia (a) JMSDF Captain insignia (a) JMSDF Commander insignia (a) JMSDF Lieutenant Commander insignia (a) JMSDF Lieutenant insignia (a) JMSDF Lieutenant Junior Grade insignia (a) JMSDF Ensign insignia (a) JMSDF Warrant Officer insignia (a)
Type B
(乙階級章)
JMSDF Admiral insignia (b) JMSDF Vice Admiral insignia (b) JMSDF Rear Admiral insignia (b) JMSDF Captain insignia (b) JMSDF Commander insignia (b) JMSDF Lieutenant Commander insignia (b) JMSDF Lieutenant insignia (b) JMSDF Lieutenant Junior Grade insignia (b) JMSDF Ensign insignia (b) JMSDF Warrant Officer insignia (b)
Type C
(丙階級章)
JMSDF Admiral insignia (c) JMSDF Vice Admiral insignia (c) JMSDF Rear Admiral insignia (c) JMSDF Captain insignia (c) JMSDF Commander insignia (c) JMSDF Lieutenant Commander insignia (c) JMSDF Lieutenant insignia (c) JMSDF Lieutenant Junior Grade insignia (c) JMSDF Ensign insignia (c) JMSDF Warrant Officer insignia (c)
Miniature
(略章)
JMSDF Admiral insignia (miniature) JMSDF Vice Admiral insignia (miniature) JMSDF Rear Admiral insignia (miniature) JMSDF Captain insignia (miniature) JMSDF Commander insignia (miniature) JMSDF Lieutenant Commander insignia (miniature) JMSDF Lieutenant insignia (miniature) JMSDF Lieutenant Junior Grade insignia (miniature) JMSDF Ensign insignia (miniature) JMSDF Warrant Officer insignia (miniature)
Enlisted
(曹・士)
Insignia Chief
Petty
Officer
(曹長)
Petty
Officer
1st Class
(1曹)
Petty
Officer
2nd Class
(2曹)
Petty
Officer
3rd Class
(3曹)
Leading
Seaman
(士長)
Seaman
(1士)
Seaman
Apprentice
(2士)
Type A
(甲階級章)
JMSDF Chief Petty Officer insignia (a) JMSDF Petty Officer 1st Class insignia (a) JMSDF Petty Officer 2nd Class insignia (a) JMSDF Petty Officer 3rd Class insignia (a) JMSDF Leading Seaman insignia (a) JMSDF Seaman insignia (a) JMSDF Seaman Apprentice insignia (a)
Type B
(乙階級章)
JMSDF Chief Petty Officer insignia (b) JMSDF Petty Officer 1st Class insignia (b) JMSDF Petty Officer 2nd Class insignia (b) JMSDF Petty Officer 3rd Class insignia (b) JMSDF Leading Seaman insignia (b) JMSDF Seaman insignia (b) JMSDF Seaman Apprentice insignia (b)
Type C
(丙階級章)
JMSDF Chief Petty Officer insignia (c) JMSDF Petty Officer 1st Class insignia (c) JMSDF Petty Officer 2nd Class insignia (c) JMSDF Petty Officer 3rd Class insignia (c) JMSDF Leading Seaman insignia (c) JMSDF Seaman insignia (c) JMSDF Seaman Apprentice insignia (c)
Miniature
(略章)
JMSDF Chief Petty Officer insignia (miniature) JMSDF Petty Officer 1st Class insignia (miniature) JMSDF Petty Officer 2nd Class insignia (miniature) JMSDF Petty Officer 3rd Class insignia (miniature) JMSDF Leading Seaman insignia (miniature) JMSDF Seaman insignia (miniature) JMSDF Seaman Apprentice insignia (miniature)

Air Self-Defense Force[]

Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.

Officer & Warrant Officer
(幹部・准尉)
Insignia General
(統合・航空
幕僚長)
Lieutenant
General
(将)
Major
General
(将補)
Colonel
(1佐)
Lieutenant
Colonel
(2佐)
Major
(3佐)
Captain
(1尉)
First
Lieutenant
(2尉)
Second
Lieutenant
(3尉)
Warrant
Officer
(准尉)
Type A
(甲階級章)
JASDF General insignia (a) JASDF Lieutenant General insignia (a) JASDF Major General insignia (a) JASDF Colonel insignia (a) JASDF Lieutenant Colonel insignia (a) JASDF Major insignia (a) JASDF Captain insignia (a) JASDF First Lieutenant insignia (a) JASDF Second Lieutenant insignia (a) JASDF Warrant Officer insignia (a)
Type B
(乙階級章)
JASDF General insignia (b) JASDF Lieutenant General insignia (b) JASDF Major General insignia (b) JASDF Colonel insignia (b) JASDF Lieutenant Colonel insignia (b) JASDF Major insignia (b) JASDF Captain insignia (b) JASDF First Lieutenant insignia (b) JASDF Second Lieutenant insignia (b) JASDF Warrant Officer insignia (b)
Miniature
(略章)
JASDF General insignia (miniature) JASDF Lieutenant General insignia (miniature) JASDF Major General insignia (miniature) JASDF Colonel insignia (miniature) JASDF Lieutenant Colonel insignia (miniature) JASDF Major insignia (miniature) JASDF Captain insignia (miniature) JASDF First Lieutenant insignia (miniature) JASDF Second Lieutenant insignia (miniature) JASDF Warrant Officer insignia (miniature)
Enlisted
(曹・士)
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)
Type A
(甲階級章)
JASDF Senior Master Sergeant insignia (a) JASDF Master Sergeant insignia (a) JASDF Technical Sergeant insignia (a) JASDF Staff Sergeant insignia (a) JASDF Airman 1st Class insignia (a) JASDF Airman 2nd Class insignia (a) JASDF Airman 3rd Class insignia (a)
Type B
(乙階級章)
JASDF Senior Master Sergeant insignia (b) JASDF Master Sergeant insignia (b) JASDF Technical Sergeant insignia (b) JASDF Staff Sergeant insignia (b) JASDF Airman 1st Class insignia (b) JASDF Airman 2nd Class insignia (b) JASDF Airman 3rd Class insignia (b)
Miniature
(略章)
JASDF Senior Master Sergeant insignia (miniature) JASDF Master Sergeant insignia (miniature) JASDF Technical Sergeant insignia (miniature) JASDF Staff Sergeant insignia (miniature) JASDF Airman 1st Class insignia (miniature) JASDF Airman 2nd Class insignia (miniature) JASDF Airman 3rd Class insignia (miniature)

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 Military ranks and insignia of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the edit history here.
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