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

Officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General/flag officers Field/senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Sleeve insignia
(1868–1904)
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
陸軍准尉
Rikugun-Juni

English
translation
General Lieutenant general Major general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant Warrant officer

Other ranks

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

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Sleeve insignia
(1868–1904)

Cap badges

Officer ranks

Insignia Title Translation Command
Collar Shoulder Sleeve[1] Chest
Showa 13 Showa 18[1]
N/A 大元帥陸軍大将
(Daigensui-Rikugun-Taishō)
Grand Marshal of the Japanese Empire
(Generalissimo)
Imperial Army
元帥陸軍大将
(Gensui-Rikugun-Taishō)
Field Marshal
(Marshal)
General army (Role:Army group)
N/A 陸軍大将
(Rikugun-Taishō)
General
(Army Corps General[2])
Area army (Role:Field army)
Army (Role:Army corps)
陸軍中将
(Rikugun-Chūjō)
Lieutenant General
(Divisional General[2])
Area army
Army
Division
陸軍少将
(Rikugun-Shōshō)
Major General
(Brigade General[2])
Division[lower-alpha 1]
Brigade
陸軍大佐
(Rikugun-Taisa)
Colonel Brigade
Regiment
陸軍中佐
(Rikugun-Chūsa)
Lieutenant Colonel Regiment
Battalion
陸軍少佐
(Rikugun-Shōsa)
Major Battalion
陸軍大尉
(Rikugun-Tai-i)
Captain Battalion
Company
陸軍中尉
(Rikugun-Chūi)
First Lieutenant Company
Platoon
陸軍少尉
(Rikugun-Shōi)
Second Lieutenant Platoon
准尉
(Jun-i)
特務曹長
(Tokumu Sōchō)
(Before 15 September 1940)
Warrant Officer
(Associate Officer)
Special Duty Sergeant Major
(Before 15 September 1940)
Platoon

Enlisted ranks

Insignia Title Translation (Equivalent) Command
Collar[1] Shoulder
曹長
(Sōchō)
Sergeant Major Platoon
軍曹
(Gunsō)
Sergeant Squad
伍長
(Gochō)
Corporal
兵長
(Heichō (Leading Soldier))
伍長勤務上等兵
(Gochō Kinmu jōtōhei (Senior Soldier acting as Corporal))
Lance Corporal
Second Corporal
上等兵
(Jōtōhei)
Superior Soldier
(Specialist)
None
一等兵
(Ittōhei)
Soldier First Class
(Private 1st Class)
二等兵
(Nitōhei)
Soldier Second Class
(Private)

See also

Notes

  1. The purpose is to appoint young general officers at the end of World War II.

References

Citations
  1. Mollo 2001, p. 180.
  2. Almanach Hachette 1917 p.82
Bibliography
  • Mollo, Andrew (2001). The Armed Forces of World War II: Uniforms, Insignia & Organisation. Leicester: Silverdale books. ISBN 1-85605-603-1.
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