Ranks and insignia of the Japan Self-Defense Forces

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The Ranks and insignia of the Japan Self-Defense Forces are the military insignia used by the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

History[edit]

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-Defence Forces: the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force, the Japan Air Self-Defence Force, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force, which replaced the imperial military in 1954. The 1938–1945 Japanese military and naval ranks were phased out after World War II. The Self-Defence 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 (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.

Ground Self-Defense Force[edit]

Commissioned officer ranks[edit]

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General officers Field officers Junior officers
Rank 幕僚長たる陸将
Bakuryōchō-taru-rikushō
陸将
Rikushō
陸将補
Rikushō-ho
1等陸佐
Ittō rikusa
2等陸佐
Nitō rikusa
3等陸佐
Santō rikusa
1等陸尉
Ittō rikui
2等陸尉
Nitō rikui
3等陸尉
Santō rikui
准陸尉
Jun rikui
Insignia Type A[2]
Insignia Type B
Insignia Miniature Type
U.S. equivalent[3] General Lieutenant general Major general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant Warrant officer

Other ranks[edit]

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group NCO's Enlisted
Rank 陸曹長
Rikusōchō
1等陸曹
Ittō rikusō
2等陸曹
Nitō rikusō
3等陸曹
Santō rikusō
陸士長
Rikushichō
1等陸士
Ittō rikushi
2等陸士
Nitō rikushi
自衛官候補生
Jieikan kōhosei
Insignia Type A[2]
Insignia Type B
Insignia Miniature Type No insignia
U.S. equivalent[3] First sergeant Sergeant first class Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Private first class Private Recruit

Maritime Self-Defense Force[edit]

Commissioned officer ranks[edit]

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group Flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
Rank 幕僚長たる海将
Bakuryōchō-taru-kaishō
海将
Kaishō
海将補
Kaishō-ho
1等海佐
Ittō kaisa
2等海佐
Nitō kaisa
3等海佐
Santō kaisa
1等海尉
Ittō kaii
2等海尉
Nitō kaii
3等海尉
Santō kaii
准海尉
Jun kaii
Insignia Type A[2][4]
Insignia Type B
Insignia Type C[2][4]
Insignia Miniature Type
U.S. equivalent[3] Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant (junior grade) Ensign Warrant officer

Other ranks[edit]

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group NCO's Enlisted
Rank 海曹長
Kaisōchō
1等海曹
Ittō kaisō
2等海曹
Nitō kaisō
3等海曹
Santō kaisō
海士長
Kaishichō
1等海士
Ittō kaishi
2等海士
Nitō kaishi
自衛官候補生
Jieikan kōhosei
Insignia Type A[2]
Insignia Type B
Insignia Type C No insignia
Insignia Miniature Type No insignia
U.S. equivalent[3] Senior chief petty officer Chief petty officer Petty officer first class Petty officer second class Petty officer third class Seaman Seaman apprentice Seaman recruit

Air Self-Defense Force[edit]

Commissioned officer ranks[edit]

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group Flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
Rank 幕僚長たる空将
Bakuryōchō-taru-kūshō
空将
Kūshō
空将補
Kūshō-ho
1等空佐
Ittō kūsa
2等空佐
Nitō kūsa
3等空佐
Santō kūsa
1等空尉
Ittō kūi
2等空尉
Nitō kūi
3等空尉
Santō kūi
准空尉
Jun kūi
Insignia Type A[2][5]
Insignia Type B
Insignia Miniature Type
U.S. equivalent[3] General Lieutenant general Major general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant Warrant officer

Other ranks[edit]

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group NCO's Enlisted
Rank 空曹長
Kūsōchō
1等空曹
Ittō kūsō
2等空曹
Nitō kūsō
3等空曹
Santō kūsō
空士長
Kūshichō
1等空士
Ittō kūshi
2等空士
Nitō kūshi
自衛官候補生
Jieikan kōhosei
Insignia Type A[2][5]
Insignia Type B
Insignia Miniature Type No insignia
U.S. equivalent[3] Senior master sergeant Master sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Senior Airman Airman first class Airman Recruit

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "自衛隊の階級" [Ranks of the JSDF]. 平成16年版 防衛白書 [Defense of Japan 2004] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japanese Defense Agency. 2004. p. 266. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-07-27. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "自衛官の階級" [Self-Defense Forces rank]. mod.go.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Dolan, Roland E. (1992). "National Security". In Dolan, Roland E.; Worden, Robert L. (eds.). Japan: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 448-449. LCCN 91029874. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b "階級章" [Rank chapter]. mod.go.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Rank of Insignias" (PDF). yokota.af.mil. Yokota Air Base. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2021.

External links[edit]

  • "Japan". uniforminsignia.org. The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia. Retrieved 7 June 2021.