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								Officer cadet
Sleeve insignia (1868–1904)
			陸軍りくぐん大将たいしょう Rikugun-Taishō		陸軍りくぐん中将ちゅうじょう Rikugun-Chūjō		陸軍りくぐん少将しょうしょう Rikugun-Shōshō				陸軍りくぐん大佐たいさ Rikugun-Taisa		陸軍りくぐん中佐ちゅうさ Rikugun-Chūsa		陸軍りくぐん少佐しょうさ Rikugun-Shōsa		陸軍りくぐん大尉たいい Rikugun-Tai-i		陸軍りくぐん中尉ちゅうい Rikugun-Chūi		陸軍りくぐん少尉しょうい Rikugun-Shōi		准じゅん士官しかん・下しも副官ふっかん 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)
	曹長そうちょう Sōchō								一等いっとう軍曹ぐんそう （近衛このえ） Ittō-Gunsō (Konoe)																二に等とう軍曹ぐんそう Nitō-Gunsō						上等じょうとう兵へい Jōtō-Hei		一等いっとう兵へい （近衛このえ） Ittō-Hei (Konoe)		二等兵にとうへい 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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Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Title	大元帥だいげんすい陸軍りくぐん大将たいしょう Daigensui-rikugun-taishō		陸軍りくぐん大将たいしょう Rikugun-taishō		陸軍りくぐん中将ちゅうじょう Rikugun-chūjō		陸軍りくぐん少将しょうしょう Rikugun-shōshō				陸軍りくぐん大佐たいさ Rikugun-taisa		陸軍りくぐん中佐ちゅうさ Rikugun-chūsa		陸軍りくぐん少佐しょうさ Rikugun-shōsa		陸軍りくぐん大尉たいい Rikugun-tai-i		陸軍りくぐん中尉ちゅうい Rikugun-chūi		陸軍りくぐん少尉しょうい Rikugun-shōi		准尉じゅんい Jun-i
Translation	Commander-in-chief		General		Lieutenant general		Major general				Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant		Second lieutenant		Warrant officer
Showa 13 (1938)
Showa 18 (1943)
Shoulder
Sleeve

Other ranks

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

Rank group	Non-commissioned officers				Enlisted personnel
Title	曹長そうちょう (Sōchō)	軍曹ぐんそう (Gunsō)	伍長ごちょう (Gochō)	兵長へいちょう (Heichō) 伍長ごちょう勤務きんむ上等じょうとう兵へい (Gochō Kinmu jōtōhei)	上等じょうとう兵へい (Jōtōhei)	一等いっとう兵へい (Ittōhei)	二等兵にとうへい (Nitōhei)	三さん等とう兵へい (Santōhei)
Translation	Sergeant major	Sergeant	Corporal	Lance corporal	Superior private	Private first class	Private second class	Private
Collar
Shoulder

See also

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

References

Citations

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.