Army ranks of the Japanese Empire during World War II

Imperial Japanese Military
Empire of Japan
Administration
Imperial General Headquarters
Components
 Imperial Japanese Army
(Dai Nippon Teikoku Rikugun)
        Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
        Railways and Shipping Section
    Uniforms
 Imperial Japanese Navy
(Dai Nippon Teikoku Kaigun)
        Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
        Imperial Japanese Navy Land Forces
    Major battles
    List of ships
    List of aircraft
    Main admirals
Rank insignia
Army rank insignia
Naval rank insignia
History of the Japanese Military
Military History of Japan during World War II

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

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