Ranks of the Imperial Japanese Army

Imperial Japanese Army uniforms and ranks during World War II (US Army poster)

The Ranks of the Imperial Japanese Army were the rank insignia of the Imperial Japanese Army, used from its creation in 1868, until its dissolution in 1945 following the Surrender of Japan in World War II.

The officer rank names 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.

Meiji 19 insignia

Officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Sleeve insignia (1868–1904) [1]
			陸軍大将 Rikugun-Taishō		陸軍中将 Rikugun-Chūjō		陸軍少将 Rikugun-Shōshō				陸軍大佐 Rikugun-Taisa		陸軍中佐 Rikugun-Chūsa		陸軍少佐 Rikugun-Shōsa		陸軍大尉 Rikugun-Tai-i		陸軍中尉 Rikugun-Chūi		陸軍少尉 Rikugun-Shōi		准士官・下副官 Junsikan·Kafukukan
English translation			General		Lieutenant general		Major general				Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant		Second lieutenant		Warrant officer · Adjutant

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Sleeve insignia (1868–1904) [1]
	曹長 Sōchō								一等軍曹 （近衛） Ittō-Gunsō (Konoe)																二等軍曹 Nitō-Gunsō						上等兵 Jōtō-Hei		一等兵 （近衛） Ittō-Hei (Konoe)		二等兵 Nitō-Hei
English translation	Sergeant major								Sergeant first class (Guard)																Sergeant 2nd class						Superior private		Private first class (Guard)		Private 2nd class

Cap badges

Officer is the one with the yellow star and red. Lower rank is the one with yellow star.

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Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Title	大元帥陸軍大将 Daigensui-rikugun-taishō		陸軍大将 Rikugun-taishō [a]		陸軍中将 Rikugun-chūjō		陸軍少将 Rikugun-shōshō				陸軍大佐 Rikugun-taisa		陸軍中佐 Rikugun-chūsa		陸軍少佐 Rikugun-shōsa		陸軍大尉 Rikugun-tai-i		陸軍中尉 Rikugun-chūi		陸軍少尉 Rikugun-shōi		准尉 Jun-i
Translation [2]	Commander-in-chief		General		Lieutenant general		Major general				Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant		Second lieutenant		Warrant officer
Showa 13 (1938)
Showa 18 [2] (1943)
Shoulder
Sleeve [2]

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group	Non-commissioned officers				Enlisted personnel
Title	曹長 (Sōchō)	軍曹 (Gunsō)	伍長 (Gochō)	兵長 (Heichō) 伍長勤務上等兵 (Gochō Kinmu jōtōhei)	上等兵 (Jōtōhei)	一等兵 (Ittōhei)	二等兵 (Nitōhei)	三等兵 (Santōhei)
Translation [2]	Sergeant major	Sergeant	Corporal	Lance corporal	Superior private	Private first class	Private second class	Private
Collar [2]
Shoulder

See also

• Ranks of the Imperial Japanese Navy
• Imperial Japanese Army
• Ranks and insignia of the Japan Self-Defense Forces

Notes

1. Same rank insignia used for the Gensui-rikugun-taishō (元帥陸軍大将), worn with an additional badge.

References

Citations

1. Nakanishi 2001, pp. 49–50.
2. Mollo 2001, p. 180.

Bibliography

• Mollo, Andrew (2001). The Armed Forces of World War II: Uniforms, Insignia & Organisation. Leicester: Silverdale books. ISBN   1-85605-603-1.
• Nakanishi, Ritta (2001). Japanese Military Uniforms 1841-1929. Dainippon Kaiga Co., Ltd. ISBN   978-4499227377.