Ranks of the Imperial Japanese Army

Summary

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.

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

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 edit

Officer ranks edit

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
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 edit

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 edit

Commissioned officer ranks edit

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
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 edit

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 edit

Notes edit

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

References edit

Citations
  1. ^ a b Nakanishi 2001, pp. 49–50.
  2. ^ a b c d e 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.