Ranks of the Imperial Japanese Navy

The following graphs present the rank insignia of the Imperial Japanese Navy from its establishment in 1868 to its defeat during World War II in 1945. These designs were used from 1931 onwards.

Commissioned officer ranks

^[1]

Cap badges:

All-forces ranks	IJN insignia (sleeve)	IJN insignia (collar & shoulder boards)
大元帥　Dai-gensui (Lord high admiral)
OF-10 元帥、海軍大将 Gensui-kaigun-taishō (Grand admiral)	(Same insignia as admiral; with enamelled breast badge)
OF-9 海軍大将 Kaigun-taishō (Admiral)
OF-8 海軍中将 Kaigun-chūjō (Vice-admiral)
OF-7 海軍少将 Kaigun-shōshō (Rear-admiral)
OF-5 海軍大佐 Kaigun-daisa (Captain)
OF-4 海軍中佐 Kaigun-chūsa (Commander)
OF-3 海軍少佐 Kaigun-shōsa (Lieutenant-commander)
OF-2 海軍大尉 Kaigun-daii (Lieutenant)
OF-1 海軍中尉 Kaigun-chūi (Sub-lieutenant/Lieutenant junior grade)
OF-1 海軍少尉 Kaigun-shōi (Ensign)

Cadet and warrant officer ranks

All-forces ranks	IJN insignia (sleeve)	IJN insignia (collar & shoulder boards)
OF(D) 海軍少尉候補生 Kaigun shōi kōhosei (Midshipman)
OR-9 兵曹長 Heisōchō (Warrant Officer)

Enlisted rates

All warrant and commissioned officer ranks had the same names as their army counterparts. For seamen and petty officers, which were selected from enlisted men or conscripts and given one year of training in the Navy PO Academy, the naming changed in 1942. Both of the names were different from the army names but were equal in rank.

Before 1942	After 1942	IJN insignia (upper sleeve)
Petty officers 下士官　(Kashikan)
OR-7 一等兵曹 Ittōheisō Petty officer first class	OR-7 上等兵曹 Jōtōheisō Chief petty officer
OR-6 二等兵曹 Nitōheisō Petty officer second class	OR-6 一等兵曹 Ittōheisō Petty officer first class
OR-5 三等兵曹 Santōheisō Petty officer third class	OR-5 二等兵曹 Nitōheisō Petty officer second class
Enlisted/Seamen 水兵 (Suihei)
OR-4 一等水兵 Ittōsuihei Seaman first class	OR-4 水兵長 Suiheichō Leading seaman
OR-3 二等水兵 Nitōsuihei Seaman second class	OR-3 上等水兵 Jōtōsuihei (senior seaman) Able seaman
OR-2 三等水兵 Santōsuihei Seaman third class	OR-2 一等水兵 Ittōsuihei (seaman first class) Ordinary seaman
OR-1 四等水兵 Yontōsuihei Seaman (seaman fourth class)	OR-1 二等水兵 Nitōsuihei (seaman second class) Seaman recruit

Service branch colors

The branch of the Navy in which non-executive personnel served was indicated by a color code. For officers, including midshipmen, it was the color of cloth placed as background to the cuff stripes, on both sides of the gold lace on the shoulder boards, and as longitudinal piping on the collar patches. Midshipmen and cadets wore a colored anchor on the cap, which cadets wore on the shoulder boards as well.^[2] The branch of enlisted men was denoted by the color of the Chrysanthemum flower on their rank patch; line personnel using the default gold.

Color	Branch
Violet	Engineering
Brown	Ship and engine construction
Purple-brown	Ordnance construction
Red	Medical
Pale green	Legal
White	Paymaster
Black	Survey officers
Light blue	Aviation (Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service) and Hydrography
Green	Chief carpenters (warrant officer)
Grey-blue	Band master (warrant officer)

References

↑ Rosignoli, Guido (1980). Naval and Marine Badges and Insignia of World War 2. Blandford Colour Series. Link House, West Street, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1LL: Blandford Press Ltd. pp. 152–153.
↑ Rosignoli, Guido (1980). Naval and Marine Badges and Insignia of World War 2. Blandford Colour Series. Link House, West Street, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1LL: Blandford Press Ltd. pp. 152–153.

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[1] Rosignoli, Guido (1980). Naval and Marine Badges and Insignia of World War 2. Blandford Colour Series. Link House, West Street, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1LL: Blandford Press Ltd. pp. 152–153.

[2] Rosignoli, Guido (1980). Naval and Marine Badges and Insignia of World War 2. Blandford Colour Series. Link House, West Street, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1LL: Blandford Press Ltd. pp. 152–153.