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Ranks of the Imperial Japanese Army

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

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Officer ranks

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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

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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

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

Commissioned officer ranks

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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

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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

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Notes

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

References

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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.
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