Army ranks of the Japanese Empire during World War II

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.

Officer ranks

All-forces ranks	Collar insignia
Grand Marshal Dai-Gensui (大元帥)
Marshal General Gensui Rikugun Taishō (元帥陸軍大将)	As General, plus enamelled breast badge:
General Rikugun Taishō (陸軍大将)
Lieutenant General Rikugun Chūjō (陸軍中将)
Major General Rikugun Shōshō (陸軍少将)
Colonel Rikugun Taisa (陸軍大佐)
Lieutenant Colonel Rikugun Chūsa (陸軍中佐)
Major Rikugun Shōsa (陸軍少佐)
Captain Rikugun Taii (陸軍大尉)
First Lieutenant Rikugun Chūi (陸軍中尉)
Second Lieutenant Rikugun Shōi ( 陸軍少尉)
Warrant Officer Rikugun Jun-i (Army First Officer) (陸軍准尉)

Enlisted ranks

All-forces ranks	Collar insignia
Sergeant Major Sōchō (曹長)
Sergeant Gunsō (軍曹)
Corporal Gochō (伍長)
Junior Corporal Gochō Kimmu jōtōhei (伍長勤務上等兵)
Lance-Corporal Heichō (兵長)
Senior Private Jōtōhei (上等兵)
Acting Senior Private Jōtōhei Kimmusha (上等兵勤務者)
Private 1st Class Ittōhei (一等兵)
Private; Private 2nd Class Nitōhei (二等兵)
Recruit

See also

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

External links

• World Rank Insignia site
• Japanese Army Insignia
• Imperial Japanese Army Uniforms