Military ranks and insignia of the Japan Self-Defense Forces

Following the end of World War II in Asia, after the surrender of Japan, the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy were dissolved by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers during the occupation of Japan. The symbols below represent the ranks of the Japan Self-Defense Forces: the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force which have, since 1954, replaced the imperial military. The 1938–1945 Japanese military and naval ranks were phased out after World War II. The self-defense force breaks away from the Sino-centric tradition of non-branch-specified ranks, each JSDF rank with respect to each service carries a distinct Japanese title, although equivalent titles in different branches are still similar, differing only in the use of the morphemes riku (ground) for the army ranks, kai (maritime) for the naval ranks, and kū (air) for the aviation ranks.^[1]

The pentagramic stars on the insignia represent cherry blossoms. Because Japanese soldiers take an oath to die to protect the lives and wealth of Japanese citizens, they have been compared to delicate cherry blossoms that break easily.

Remarks

• An inauguration of the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff (統合幕僚長) wears Emblem of the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff (統合幕僚長章) on the left chest.
• The published NATO code is of reference level. There is no legal provision of NATO code in the JSDF.
• The classification of rank of general officers and flag officers listed is limited to Japan. For JSDF's general officer and flag officer, there is a rank classification that matches foreign armed forces such as United States Armed Forces, which is determined by the post.

Ground Self-Defense Force

Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.

Officer
（幹部）

NATO Code	OF-9	OF-8		OF-7	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
		(OF-8)[2]	(OF-7)[2]	(OF-6)[2]
Rank	陸将 （統合幕僚長および陸上幕僚長）	陸将		陸将補	1等陸佐	2等陸佐	3等陸佐	1等陸尉	2等陸尉	3等陸尉
English translation	General or Army general[3][4] (rikushō serve as Chief of Staff)	Lieutenant general or Divisional general[3] (rikushō)		Major general or Brigade general[3] (rikushōho)	Colonel (issa)	Lieutenant colonel (nisa)	Major (sansa)	Captain (ichi-i)	First lieutenant (ni-i)	Second lieutenant (san-i)
Insignia Type A （甲階級章）
Insignia Type B （乙階級章）
Insignia Miniature Type （略章）
Usual Commanding Level	Chief of Staff	Ground Component Command and Army	Division	Brigade	Regiment	Battalion	Company		Platoon

Warrant Officer & Enlisted
（准尉および曹士）

NATO Code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1	OR-D
Rank	准陸尉	陸曹長	1等陸曹	2等陸曹	3等陸曹	陸士長	1等陸士	2等陸士	自衛官候補生
English translation	Warrant Officer (jun-i)	Sergeant major (sōchō)	Master sergeant (issō)	Sergeant first class (nisō)	Sergeant (sansō)	Senior Private (sichō)	Private first class (issi)	Private (nisi)	Self defence official cadet (jiēkan-kōhosē)
Insignia Type A （甲階級章）
Insignia Type B （乙階級章）
Insignia Miniature Type （略章）									No insignia
Usual Commanding Level	Platoon			Section or Squad		No Commanding

Maritime Self-Defense Force

Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.

Officer
（幹部）

NATO Code	OF-9	OF-8		OF-7	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
		(OF-8)[2]	(OF-7)[2]	(OF-6)[2]
Rank	海将 （統合幕僚長および海上幕僚長）	海将		海将補	1等海佐	2等海佐	3等海佐	1等海尉	2等海尉	3等海尉
English translation	Admiral (kaishō serve as Chief of Staff)	Vice admiral (kaishō)		Rear admiral (kaishōho)	Captain	Commander	Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant	Lieutenant Junior grade	Ensign
Insignia Type A （甲階級章）
Insignia Type B （乙階級章）
Insignia Type C （丙階級章）
Insignia Miniature Type （略章）
Usual Commanding Level	Chief of Staff	Fleet	Type Force	Flotilla	Large Vessel or Division (Medium Vessel)	Medium Vessel or Division (Small Vessel)	Small Vessel		No Commanding

Warrant Officer & Enlisted
（准尉および曹士）

NATO Code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1	OR-D
Rank	准海尉	海曹長	1等海曹	2等海曹	3等海曹	海士長	1等海士	2等海士	自衛官候補生
English translation	Warrant Officer	Chief petty officer	Petty officer first class	Petty officer second class	Petty officer third class	Leading seaman	Seaman	Seaman apprentice	Self defence official cadet
Type A （甲階級章）
Type B （乙階級章）
Type C （丙階級章）									No insignia
Miniature （略章）									No insignia

Air Self-Defense Force

Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.

Officer
（幹部）

NATO Code	OF-9	OF-8		OF-7	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
		(OF-8)[2]	(OF-7)[2]	(OF-6)[2]
Rank	空将 （統合幕僚長および航空幕僚長）	空将		空将補	1等空佐	2等空佐	3等空佐	1等空尉	2等空尉	3等空尉
English translation	General or Army general[3] (kūshō serve as Chief of Staff	Lieutenant general or Divisional general[3] (kūshō)		Major general or Brigade general[3] (kūshōho)	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major	Captain	First lieutenant	Second lieutenant
Insignia Type A （甲階級章）
Insignia Type B （乙階級章）
Insignia Miniature Type （略章）
Usual Commanding Level	Chief of Staff	Major Command	Air Force	Wing	Group	Squadron		Flight	Element or Section

Warrant Officer & Enlisted
（准尉および曹士）

NATO Code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1	OR-D
Rank	准空尉	空曹長	1等空曹	2等空曹	3等空曹	空士長	1等空士	2等空士	自衛官候補生
English translation	Warrant Officer	Senior master sergeant	Master sergeant	Technical sergeant	Staff sergeant	Airman first class	Airman second class	Airman third class	Self defence official cadet
Insignia Type A （甲階級章）
Insignia Type B （乙階級章）
Insignia Miniature Type （略章）									No insignia
Usual Commanding Level	Element or Section			Detail		No Commanding

See also

• Comparative military ranks

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military rank insignia of the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

• The International Encyclopedia of Uniform and Rank Insignia around the World