Ranks of the Imperial Japanese Army

Imperial Japanese Army uniforms and ranks during World War II (US Army poster)

The following tables present the rank insignia of the Imperial Japanese Army before and during World War II. These designs were worn on shoulders as passants (shoulder straps) between the years 1911 and 1938, then on collars afterwards until 1945, when the army was dissolved.

The same officer ranks 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.

Cap badges[]

Officer ranks[]

Insignia					Title	Translation	Command
Collar^[1]		Shoulder	Sleeve^[1]	Chest
Type A	Type B	Shoulder	Sleeve^[1]	Chest
				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^[a] 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)	Associate Officer Special Duty Sergeant Major (Before 15 September 1940)	Platoon

Enlisted ranks[]

Insignia		Title	Translation	Command
Collar^[1]	Shoulder	Title	Translation	Command
		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 (Senior Soldier))	Superior Private (Specialist)	None
		一等兵 (Ittōhei (Soldier First Class))	Private 1st Class
		二等兵 (Nitōhei (Soldier Second Class))	Private

Notes[]

^ The purpose is to appoint young general officers at the end of World War II.^{[clarification needed]}

References[]

Citations

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Mollo 2001, p. 180.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c 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.

[3] The purpose is to appoint young general officers at the end of World War II.^{[clarification needed]}

[FOOTNOTEMollo2001180-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Mollo 2001, p. 180.

[AH-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Almanach Hachette 1917 p.82

[1]

[2]

[a]