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 Military |
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Administration |
![]() (Dai Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) |
![]() (Dai Nippon Teikoku Kaigun) |
Rank insignia |
History |
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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sleeve insignia (1868–1904) |
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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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sleeve insignia (1868–1904) |
Cap badges
Officer ranks
Insignia | Title | Translation | Command | ||||
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Collar | Shoulder | Sleeve[1] | Chest | ||||
Showa 13 | Showa 18[1] | ||||||
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N/A | 大元帥陸軍大将 (Daigensui-Rikugun-Taishō) |
Grand Marshal of the Japanese Empire (Generalissimo) |
Imperial Army | ||
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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) | ||||
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陸軍中将 (Rikugun-Chūjō) |
Lieutenant General (Divisional General[2]) |
Area army Army Division | |
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陸軍少将 (Rikugun-Shōshō) |
Major General (Brigade General[2]) |
Division[lower-alpha 1] Brigade | |
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陸軍大佐 (Rikugun-Taisa) |
Colonel | Brigade Regiment | |
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陸軍中佐 (Rikugun-Chūsa) |
Lieutenant Colonel | Regiment Battalion | |
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陸軍少佐 (Rikugun-Shōsa) |
Major | Battalion | |
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陸軍大尉 (Rikugun-Tai-i) |
Captain | Battalion Company | |
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陸軍中尉 (Rikugun-Chūi) |
First Lieutenant | Company Platoon | |
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陸軍少尉 (Rikugun-Shōi) |
Second Lieutenant | Platoon | |
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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 | |
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Collar[1] | Shoulder | |||
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曹長 (Sōchō) |
Sergeant Major | Platoon |
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軍曹 (Gunsō) |
Sergeant | Squad |
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伍長 (Gochō) |
Corporal | |
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兵長 (Heichō (Leading Soldier)) 伍長勤務上等兵 (Gochō Kinmu jōtōhei (Senior Soldier acting as Corporal)) |
Lance Corporal Second Corporal | |
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上等兵 (Jōtōhei) |
Superior Soldier (Specialist) |
None |
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一等兵 (Ittōhei) |
Soldier First Class (Private 1st Class) | |
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二等兵 (Nitōhei) |
Soldier Second Class (Private) |
See also
Notes
- The purpose is to appoint young general officers at the end of World War II.
References
- Citations
- Mollo 2001, p. 180.
- 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.