Military ranks and insignia of the Japan Self-Defense Forces
Encyclopedia
After World War II
, the Imperial Japanese Army
and Imperial Japanese Navy
were dissolved by the United States
during the occupation of Japan. The symbols below represent the ranks
of the Japanese Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force
, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
which have, since 1952, replaced the imperial military. The 1938–1945 Japanese military
and naval
ranks were phased out after World War II. The Self Defense Force breaks away from the Sino-centric tradition of non-branch-specified ranks, each SDF rank with respect to each service carries a distinct Japanese title, although equivalent titles in different branches are still similar, differing only in the use of the morphemes riku (ground) for the army ranks, kai (sea) for the naval ranks, and kuu (air) for the aviation ranks.
The pentagramic stars on some insignia represent cherry blossoms. Because Japanese soldiers take an oath to die to protect the lives and wealth of Japanese citizens, they have been compared to delicate cherry blossoms that break easily (see Japanese kamikaze-manned rocket weapon Ouka (cherry blossom)).
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
and Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
were dissolved by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the occupation of Japan. The symbols below represent the ranks
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
of the Japanese Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
The , or JGSDF, is the army of Japan. The largest of the three services of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the Ground Self-Defense Force operates under the command of the chief of the ground staff, based in the city of Ichigaya, Tokyo. The present chief of ground staff is General Yoshifumi Hibako...
, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Japan Air Self-Defense Force
The , or JASDF, is the aviation branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace and other aerospace operations. The JASDF carries out combat air patrols around Japan, while also maintaining an extensive network of ground and air early warning radar systems...
, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
The , or JMSDF, is the naval branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II....
which have, since 1952, replaced the imperial military. The 1938–1945 Japanese military
Army ranks of the Japanese Empire during World War II
The following tables present the rank insignia of the Japanese military before and during World War II. These designs were worn on shoulders as passants between the years 1911 and 1938, then on collars afterwards until 1945, when the Imperial Japanese Army was dissolved.- Officer ranks :- Enlisted...
and naval
Naval ranks of the Japanese Empire during World War II
The following graphs present the rank insignia of the Japanese navy during World War II. These designs had been used from 1931-1945, but were discontinued after World War II, when the Imperial Japanese Navy had been dissolved....
ranks were phased out after World War II. The Self Defense Force breaks away from the Sino-centric tradition of non-branch-specified ranks, each SDF rank with respect to each service carries a distinct Japanese title, although equivalent titles in different branches are still similar, differing only in the use of the morphemes riku (ground) for the army ranks, kai (sea) for the naval ranks, and kuu (air) for the aviation ranks.
The pentagramic stars on some insignia represent cherry blossoms. Because Japanese soldiers take an oath to die to protect the lives and wealth of Japanese citizens, they have been compared to delicate cherry blossoms that break easily (see Japanese kamikaze-manned rocket weapon Ouka (cherry blossom)).
Ground Self-Defense Force
Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.| Insignia | General （統合・陸上 幕僚長） | Lieutenant General （将） | Major General （将補） |
Colonel （1佐） | Lieutenant Colonel （2佐） | Major （3佐） |
Captain （1尉） | First Lieutenant （2尉） | Second Lieutenant （3尉） | Warrant Officer （准尉） |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type A （甲階級章） |
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| Type B （乙階級章） |
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| Miniature （略章） |
| Insignia | Sergeant Major （曹長） | Master Sergeant （1曹） | Sergeant First Class （2曹） | Sergeant （3曹） | Corporal （士長） | Private First Class （1士） | Private （2士） |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type A （甲階級章） |
|||||||
| Type B （乙階級章） |
|||||||
| Miniature （略章） |
Maritime Self-Defense Force
Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.| Insignia | Admiral （統合・海上 幕僚長） | Vice Admiral （将） | Rear Admiral （将補） |
Captain （1佐） | Commander （2佐） | Lieutenant Commander （3佐） |
Lieutenant （1尉） | Lieutenant Junior Grade （2尉） | Ensign （3尉） | Warrant Officer （准尉） |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type A （甲階級章） |
||||||||||
| Type B （乙階級章） |
||||||||||
| Type C （丙階級章） |
||||||||||
| Miniature （略章） |
| Insignia | Chief Petty Officer （曹長） | Petty Officer 1st Class （1曹） | Petty Officer 2nd Class （2曹） | Petty Officer 3rd Class （3曹） | Leading Seaman （士長） | Seaman （1士） | Seaman Apprentice （2士） |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type A （甲階級章） |
|||||||
| Type B （乙階級章） |
|||||||
| Type C （丙階級章） |
|||||||
| Miniature （略章） |
Air Self-Defense Force
Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.| Insignia | General （統合・航空 幕僚長） | Lieutenant General （将） | Major General （将補） |
Colonel （1佐） | Lieutenant Colonel （2佐） | Major （3佐） |
Captain （1尉） | First Lieutenant （2尉） | Second Lieutenant （3尉） | Warrant Officer （准尉） |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type A （甲階級章） |
||||||||||
| Type B （乙階級章） |
||||||||||
| Miniature （略章） |
| Insignia | Senior Master Sergeant （曹長） | Master Sergeant （1曹） | Technical Sergeant （2曹） | Staff Sergeant （3曹） | Airman 1st Class （士長） | Airman Class （1士） | Airman Basic （2士） |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type A （甲階級章） |
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| Type B （乙階級章） |
|||||||
| Miniature （略章） |