Army ranks of the Japanese Empire during World War II

Imperial Japanese Military

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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 Taisa denoted a naval captain.

Officer ranks

Imperial Japanese Army ranks	Collar insignia
Grand Marshal General Daigensui-Rikugun-Taishō (大元帥、陸軍大将)
OF-10 Marshal General Gensui-Rikugun-Taishō (元帥、陸軍大将)	As General, plus enamelled breast badge:
OF-9 General Rikugun-Taishō (陸軍大将)
OF-8 Lieutenant General Rikugun-Chūjō (陸軍中将)
OF-7 Major General Rikugun-Shōshō (陸軍少将)
OF-5 Colonel Rikugun-Taisa (陸軍大佐)
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel Rikugun-Chūsa (陸軍中佐)
OF-3 Major Rikugun-Shōsa (陸軍少佐)
OF-2 Captain Rikugun-Tai-i (陸軍大尉)
OF-1 First Lieutenant Rikugun-Chūi (陸軍中尉)
OF-1 Second Lieutenant Rikugun-Shōi (陸軍少尉)
OR-9 Warrant Officer Rikugun-Jun-i (Associate Officer) (陸軍准尉)

Enlisted ranks

All-forces ranks	Collar insignia
OR-7 Sergeant Major Sōchō (曹長)
OR-6 Sergeant Gunsō (軍曹)
OR-5 Corporal Gochō (伍長)
OR-4 Junior Corporal Gochō Kimmu jōtōhei (Senior Soldier acting as Corporal) (伍長勤務上等兵) Lance-Corporal Heichō (Leading Soldier) (兵長)
OR-3 Superior Private Jōtōhei (Senior Soldier) (上等兵)
OR-2 Private 1st Class Ittōhei (Soldier First Class) (一等兵)
OR-1 Private Nitōhei (Soldier Second Class) (二等兵)

See also

• Naval ranks of the Japanese Empire during World War II
• Comparative military ranks
• Imperial Japanese Army
• Imperial Japanese Navy
• Military rank