Army ranks of the Japanese Empire during World War II

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Imperial Japanese Military
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(Dai Nippon Teikoku Rikugun)
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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.

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.

Contents

[edit] Officer ranks

All-forces ranks Collar insignia
Field Marshal
Gensui Rikugun Taishō (元帥陸軍大将?)
As General, plus enamelled breast badge:
元帥徽章.svg
General
Rikugun Taishō (陸軍大将?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―大将.svg
Lieutenant General
Rikugun Chūjō (陸軍中将?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―中将.svg
Major General
Rikugun Shōshō (陸軍少将?)
帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―少将.svg
Colonel
Rikugun Taisa (陸軍大佐?)
Ijacolonel.gif
Lieutenant Colonel
Rikugun Chūsa (陸軍中佐?)
Ijalieutcolonel.gif
Major
Rikugun Shōsa (陸軍少佐?)
Ijamajor.gif
Captain
Rikugun Taii (陸軍大尉?)
Ijacptn.gif
Lieutenant
Rikugun Chūi (陸軍中尉?)
Ijafirstlieut.gif
Second Lieutenant
Rikugun Shōi ( 陸軍少尉?)
Ijasecondlieut.gif
Warrant Officer
Rikugun Jun-i (Army First Officer) (陸軍准尉?)
Ijawarrantoff.gif

[edit] Enlisted ranks

All-forces ranks Collar insignia
Sergeant Major
Sōchō (曹長?)
Ijasgtmajor.gif
Sergeant
Gunsō (軍曹?)
Ijasgt.gif
Corporal
Gochō (伍長?)
Ijacorporal.gif
Junior Corporal
Gochō Kimmu jōtōhei (伍長勤務上等兵?)
Lance-Corporal
Heichō (兵長?)
Ijalancecorporal.gif
Senior Private
Jōtōhei (上等兵?)
Ijasuperiorprivate.gif
Acting Senior Private
Jōtōhei Kimmusha (上等兵勤務者?)
Private 1st Class
Ittōhei (一等兵?)
Ijaprivate1class.gif
Private
Nitōhei (二等兵?)
Ijaprivate2class.gif
Recruit
Ijarecruit.gif

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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