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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

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Following the end of World War II in Asia, after the surrender of Japan, the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy were dissolved by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in 1945, during the Allied occupation that lasted until 1952. The 1947 constitution stipulated that armed forces with war potential will not be maintained.

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 1871–1945 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

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Commissioned officer ranks

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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

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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

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Commissioned officer ranks

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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

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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

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Commissioned officer ranks

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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

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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

Timeline

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Commissioned officer ranks

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Rank group General / Flag Officers Field Officers Junior Officers
National Police Reserve
1950–1952
総隊総監たる警察監[6]
Sōtisōkan-taru-keisatsukan
警察監[6]
Keisatsukan
警察監補[6]
Keisatsukan-ho
1等警察正
Ittō-keisatsusei
2等警察正
Nitō-keisatsusei
警察士長
Keisatsusi-chō
1等警察士
Ittō-keisatushi
2等警察士
Nitō-keisatsusi
National Safety Force
1952–1954
第一幕僚長たる保安監[6]
Dai'ichibakuryōchō-taru-hoankan
保安監[6]
Hoankan
保安監補
Hoankan-ho[6]
1等保安正
Ittō-hoansei
2等保安正
Nitō-hansei
3等保安正
Santō-hoansei
1等保安士
ittō-hoanshi
2等保安士
Nitō-hoanshi
3等保安士
Santō-hoanshi
Coastal Safety Force
1952
海上警備監[7]
kaijō-keibikan
海上警備監補[7]
Kaijō-keibikan-ho
1等海上警備正
Itto-kaijō-keibisei
2等海上警備正
Nitō-kaijō-keibisei
3等海上警備正
Santō-kaijō-keibisei
1等海上警備士
Itto-kaijō-keibishi
2等海上警備士
Nitō-kaijō-keibishi
3等海上警備士
Santō-kaijō-keibishi
Safety Security Force
1952–1954
第二幕僚長たる警備監[7]
Dainibakuryōchō-taru-keibikan
警備監[7][8]
Keibikan
警備監補[7]
Keibikan-ho
1等警備正
Ittō-keibisei
2等警備正
Nitō-keibisei
3等警備正
Santō-keibisei
1等警備士
Ittō-keibishi
2等警備士
Nitō-keibishi
3等警備士
Santō-keibishi
Self-Defense Forces
1954–1962

Shō
将補
Shō-ho
1佐
Issa
2佐
Nisa
3佐
Sansa
1尉
Ichi'i
2尉
Ni'i
3尉
San'i
1962–1970 幕僚長たる将
Bakuryōchō-taru-shō
1970–current  准尉
Jun'i
U.S. equivalent[3] GEN
ADM
Gen.
LTG
VADM
Lt.Gen.
MG
RADM
Maj.Gen.
BG
RDML
Brig.Gen.
COL
CAPT
Col.
LTC
CDR
Lt.Col.
MAJ
LCDR
Maj.
CPT
LT
Capt.
1LT
LTJG
1st LT.
2LT
ENS
2nd LT.
WO
WO
WO

Other ranks

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Rank group NCO's Enlisted
National Police Reserve
1950–1952
1等警察士補
Ittō-keisatsushi-ho
2等警察士補
Nitō-keisatsushi-ho
3等警察士補
Santō-keisatsushi-ho
警査長
Keisa-chō
1等警査
Ittō-keisa
2等警査
Nitō-keisa
National Safety Force
1952–1954
1等保安士補
Ittō-hoanshi-ho
2等保安士補
Nitō-hoanshi-ho
3等保安士補
Santō-hoanshi-ho
保査長
Hosa-chō
1等保査
Ittō-hosa
2等保査
Nitō-hosa
Coastal Safety Force
1952
1等海上警備士補
Ittō-kaijōkeibishi-ho
2等海上警備士補
Nitō-kaijōkeibishi-ho
3等海上警備士補
Santō-kaijōkeibishi-ho
海上警備員長
Kaijōkeibi'in-chō
1等海上警備員
Ittō-kaijōkeibi'in
2等海上警備員
Nitō-kaijōkeibi'in
3等海上警備員
Santō-kaijōkeibi'in
Safety Security Force
1952–1954
1等警備士補
Ittō-keibishi-ho
2等警備士補
Nitō-keibishi-ho
3等警備士補
Santō-keibishi-ho
警査長
Keisa-chō
1等警査
Ittō-keisa
2等警査
Nitō-keisa
3等警査
Santō-keisa
Self-Defense Forces
1954–1980
1曹
Issō
2曹
Nisō
3曹
Sansō
士長
Shichō
1士
Isshi
2士
Nishi
3士
Sanshi
1980–2010 曹長
Sōchō
2010–current 自衛官候補生
Jieikan-kōhosei
U.S. equivalent[3] 1SG
SCPO
SMSgt
SFC
CPO
MSgt
SSG
PO1
TSgt
SGT
PO2
SSgt
CPL
PO3
SrA
PFC
SN
A1C
PV2
SA
Amn
PV1
SR
AB

See also

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References

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  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.自衛隊の階級Category:Articles containing Japanese-language text&rft.btitle=平成16年版 防衛白書&rft.pages=266&rft.pub=Japanese Defense Agency&rft.date=2004&rft_id=http://www.clearing.mod.go.jp/hakusho_data/2004/2004/pdf/16510000.pdf&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Ranks and insignia of the Japan Self-Defense Forces" class="Z3988">
  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 g h 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.
  6. ^ a b c d e f At that time, they corresponded to three-star rank, two-star rank and one-star rank respectively. パンツァー 1998年4月号 125頁。アルゴノート社。(PANZER April 1998 issu page.125 Argonaut.Inc.)
  7. ^ a b c d e 世界の艦船増刊第59集 海上自衛隊の50年 22頁。海人社 (SHIPS OF THE WORLD a collection of 59th edition "50 years of the Maritime Self-Defense Force" page.22 Kaijinsha.)
  8. ^ Keibikan's cuff insignia used a gold stripe of 2-inchi, 1/4-inchi and 1/2-inchi array. ref name="rank insignia 2" relevant.
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  • "Japan". uniforminsignia.org. The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia. Retrieved 7 June 2021.