Military ranks and insignia of the Japan Self-Defense Forces
![]() | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (October 2011) |
Following the end of World War II in Asia, after the surrender of Japan, the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy were dissolved by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers during the occupation of Japan. The symbols below represent the ranks of the Japan Self-Defence Forces: the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force, the Japan Air Self-Defence Force, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force which replaced the imperial military in 1954. The 1938–1945 Japanese military and naval ranks were phased out after World War II. The self-defence force breaks away from the Sino-centric tradition of non-branch-specified ranks, each JSDF 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 (maritime) for the naval ranks, and kū (air) for the aviation ranks.[1]
The pentagramic stars on the 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.
Remarks[]
- An inauguration of the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff (統合幕僚長) wears Emblem of the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff (統合幕僚長章) on the left chest.
- The classification of rank of general officers and flag officers listed is limited to Japan. For JSDF's general officer and flag officer, there is a rank classification that matches foreign armed forces such as United States Armed Forces, which is determined by the post.
Ground Self-Defense Force[]
Officer(幹部)[]
Rank | 幕僚長たる陸将 (Rikushō serving as Chief of Staff) |
陸将 (Rikushō) |
陸将補 (Rikushō-ho) |
1等陸佐 (Ittō rikusa) |
2等陸佐 (Nitō rikusa) |
3等陸佐 (Santō rikusa) |
1等陸尉 (Ittō rikui) |
2等陸尉 (Nitō rikui) |
3等陸尉 (Santō rikui) |
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Abbreviation | - | 将 (Shō) |
将補 (Shō-ho) |
1佐 (Issa) |
2佐 (Nisa) |
3佐 (Sansa) |
1尉 (Ichii) |
2尉 (Nii) |
3尉 (San-i) |
English translation | General (Lieutenant general serving as chief of staff) Army corps general[2] (Divisional general serving as chief of staff) |
Lieutenant general Divisional general[2] |
Major General Brigade general[2] |
Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | First lieutenant | Second lieutenant |
Insignia Type A (甲階級章) |
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Insignia Type B (乙階級章) |
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Insignia Miniature Type (略章) |
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Warrant Officer & Enlisted (准尉および曹士)[]
Rank | 准陸尉 (Jun rikui) |
陸曹長 (Rikusōchō) |
1等陸曹 (Ittō rikusō) |
2等陸曹 (Nitō rikusō) |
3等陸曹 (Santō rikusō) |
陸士長 (Rikushichō) |
1等陸士 (Ittō rikushi) |
2等陸士 (Nitō rikushi) |
自衛官候補生 (Jieikan kōhosei) |
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Abbreviation | 准尉 (Jun-i) |
曹長 (Sōchō) |
1曹 (Issō) |
2曹 (Nisō) |
3曹 (Sansō) |
士長 (Shichō) |
1士 (Isshi) |
2士 (Nishi) |
自候生 (Jikōsei) |
English translation | Warrant Officer | Sergeant major | Master sergeant | Sergeant first class | Sergeant | Leading Private | Private first class | Private | Self-defense official cadet |
Insignia Type A (甲階級章) |
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Insignia Type B (乙階級章) |
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Insignia Miniature Type (略章) |
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No insignia |
Maritime Self-Defense Force[]
Officer(幹部)[]
Rank | 幕僚長たる海将 (Kaishō serving as Chief of Staff) |
海将 (Kaishō) |
海将補 (Kaishō-ho) |
1等海佐 (Ittō kaisa) |
2等海佐 (Nitō kaisa) |
3等海佐 (Santō kaisa) |
1等海尉 (Ittō kaii) |
2等海尉 (Nitō kaii) |
3等海尉 (Santō kaii) |
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Abbreviation | - | 将 (Shō) |
将補 (Shō-ho) |
1佐 (Issa) |
2佐 (Nisa) |
3佐 (Sansa) |
1尉 (Ichii) |
2尉 (Nii) |
3尉 (San-i) |
English translation | Admiral (Vice admiral serving as chief of staff) |
Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander |
Lieutenant | Lieutenant junior grade | Ensign |
Insignia Type A (甲階級章) |
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Insignia Type B (乙階級章) |
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Insignia Type C (丙階級章) |
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Insignia Miniature Type (略章) |
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Warrant Officer & Enlisted(准尉および曹士)[]
Rank | 准海尉 (Jun kaii) |
海曹長 (Kaisōchō) |
1等海曹 (Ittō kaisō) |
2等海曹 (Nitō kaisō) |
3等海曹 (Santō kaisō) |
海士長 (Kaishichō) |
1等海士 (Ittō kaishi) |
2等海士 (Nitō kaishi) |
自衛官候補生 (Jieikan kōhosei) |
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Abbreviation | 准尉 (Jun-i) |
曹長 (Sōchō) |
1曹 (Issō) |
2曹 (Nisō) |
3曹 (Sansō) |
士長 (Shichō) |
1士 (Isshi) |
2士 (Nishi) |
自候生 (Jikōsei) |
English translation | Warrant Officer | Chief petty officer | Petty officer first class | Petty officer second class | Petty officer third class | Leading seaman | Seaman | Seaman apprentice | Self-defence official cadet |
Insignia Type A (甲階級章) |
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Insignia Type B (乙階級章) |
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Insignia Type C (丙階級章) |
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No insignia |
Insignia Miniature Type (略章) |
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No insignia |
Air Self-Defense Force[]
Officer(幹部)[]
Rank | 幕僚長たる空将 (Kūshō serving as Chief of Staff) |
空将 (Kūshō) |
空将補 (Kūshō-ho) |
1等空佐 (Ittō kūsa) |
2等空佐 (Nitō kūsa) |
3等空佐 (Santō kūsa) |
1等空尉 (Ittō kūi) |
2等空尉 (Nitō kūi) |
3等空尉 (Santō kūi) |
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Abbreviation | - | 将 (Shō) |
将補 (Shō-ho) |
1佐 (Issa) |
2佐 (Nisa) |
3佐 (Sansa) |
1尉 (Ichii) |
2尉 (Nii) |
3尉 (San-i) |
English translation | General (Lieutenant general serving as chief of staff) Air corps general[2] (Air divisional general serving as chief of staff) |
Lieutenant general Air divisional general[2] |
Major general Air brigade general[2] |
Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | First lieutenant | Second lieutenant |
Insignia Type A (甲階級章) |
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Insignia Type B (乙階級章) |
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Insignia Miniature Type (略章) |
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Warrant Officer & Enlisted(准尉および曹士)[]
Rank | 准空尉 (Jun kūi) |
空曹長 (Kūsōchō) |
1等空曹 (Ittō kūsō) |
2等空曹 (Nitō kūsō) |
3等空曹 (Santō kūsō) |
空士長 (Kūshichō) |
1等空士 (Ittō kūshi) |
2等空士 (Nitō kūshi) |
自衛官候補生 (Jieikan kōhosei) |
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Abbreviation | 准尉 (Jun-i) |
曹長 (Sōchō) |
1曹 (Issō) |
2曹 (Nisō) |
3曹 (Sansō) |
士長 (Shichō) |
1士 (Isshi) |
2士 (Nishi) |
自候生 (Jikōsei) |
English translation | Warrant Officer | Senior master sergeant | Master sergeant | Technical sergeant | Staff sergeant | Airman first class | Airman second class | Airman third class | Self-defence official cadet |
Insignia Type A (甲階級章) |
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Insignia Type B (乙階級章) |
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Insignia Miniature Type (略章) |
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No insignia |
See also[]
- Ranks of the Imperial Japanese Army
- Ranks of the Imperial Japanese Navy
References[]
- ^ "自衛隊の階級" [Ranks of the JSDF]. 平成16年版 防衛白書 [Defense of Japan 2004] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japanese Defense Agency. 2004. p. 266. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-07-27. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
- ^ a b c d e f Almanach Hachette 1917 p.82 Compliant with the Imperial Japanese Army rank chart.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military rank insignia of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. |
- "Rank of Insignias" (PDF). yokota.af.mil. Yokota Air Base. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- "階級章" [Rank chapter]. mod.go.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- "Japan". uniforminsignia.org. The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- Japan Self-Defense Forces
- Military ranks of Japan