🇯🇵
Japan vs China Military Ranks
The Japanese Army has 17 ranks — 10 officer and 7 enlisted — from 2等陸士 Nitō rikushi up to 幕僚長たる陸将 Bakuryōchō-taru-rikushō. Below: all 51 ranks across 3 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force), aligned tier by tier with their Chinese equivalents.
Branches
3
Ranks documented
51
Active personnel
247K
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 17 of 17 matched
| 🇯🇵 Japan · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
幕僚長たる陸将 Bakuryōchō-taru-rikushō
|
OF-9 General |
陆军上将 (General)
|
陸将 Rikushō
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
陆军中将 (Lieutenant General)
|
陸将補 Rikushō-ho
|
OF-7 Major General |
陆军少将 (Major General)
|
1等陸佐 Ittō rikusa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
陆军上校 (Colonel)
|
2等陸佐 Nitō rikusa
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
陆军中校 (Lieutenant Colonel)
|
3等陸佐 Santō rikusa
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
陆军少校 (Major)
|
1等陸尉 Ittō rikui
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
陆军上尉 (Captain)
|
2等陸尉 Nitō rikui
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant)
陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
|
3等陸尉 Santō rikui
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant)
陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
|
准陸尉 Jun rikui
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant)
陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
陸曹長 Rikusōchō
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
陆军一级军士长 (First Class Sergeant Major)
|
1等陸曹 Ittō rikusō
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
陆军二级军士长 (Second Class Sergeant Major)
|
2等陸曹 Nitō rikusō
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
陆军三级军士长 (Third Class Sergeant Major)
|
3等陸曹 Santō rikusō
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
陆军一级上士 (First Class Master Sergeant)
|
陸士長 Rikushichō
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
陆军下士 (Corporal)
|
1等陸士 Ittō rikushi
|
OR-2 Private |
陆军上等兵 (Private First Class)
|
2等陸士 Nitō rikushi
|
OR-1 Private |
陆军列兵 (Private)
|
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 17 of 17 matched
| 🇯🇵 Japan · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
幕僚長たる海将 Bakuryōchō-taru-kaishō
|
OF-9 General |
海军上将 (Admiral)
|
海将 Kaishō
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
海军中将 (Vice Admiral)
|
海将補 Kaishō-ho
|
OF-7 Major General |
海军少将 (Rear Admiral)
|
1等海佐 Ittō kaisa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
海军上校 (Captain)
|
2等海佐 Nitō kaisa
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
海军中校 (Commander)
|
3等海佐 Santō kaisa
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
海军少校 (Lieutenant Commander)
|
1等海尉 Ittō kaii
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
海军上尉 (Lieutenant)
|
2等海尉 Nitō kaii
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
海军中尉 (Sub-Lieutenant)
海军少尉 (Ensign)
|
3等海尉 Santō kaii
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
海军中尉 (Sub-Lieutenant)
海军少尉 (Ensign)
|
准海尉 Jun kaii
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
海军中尉 (Sub-Lieutenant)
海军少尉 (Ensign)
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
海曹長 Kaisōchō
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
海军一级军士长 (First Class Sergeant Major)
|
1等海曹 Ittō kaisō
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
海军二级军士长 (Second Class Sergeant Major)
|
2等海曹 Nitō kaisō
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
海军三级军士长 (Third Class Sergeant Major)
|
3等海曹 Santō kaisō
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
海军一级上士 (First Class Master Sergeant)
|
海士長 Kaishichō
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
海军下士 (Corporal)
|
1等海士 Ittō kaishi
|
OR-2 Private |
海军上等兵 (Seaman First Class)
|
2等海士 Nitō kaishi
|
OR-1 Private | 海军列兵 (Seaman Recruit) |
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 17 of 17 matched
| 🇯🇵 Japan · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
幕僚長たる空将 Bakuryōchō-taru-kūshō
|
OF-9 General |
空军上将 (General)
|
空将 Kūshō
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
空军中将 (Lieutenant General)
|
空将補 Kūshō-ho
|
OF-7 Major General |
空军少将 (Major General)
|
1等空佐 Ittō kūsa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
空军上校 (Colonel)
|
2等空佐 Nitō kūsa
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
空军中校 (Lieutenant Colonel)
|
3等空佐 Santō kūsa
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
空军少校 (Major)
|
1等空尉 Ittō kūi
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
空军上尉 (Captain)
|
2等空尉 Nitō kūi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
空军中尉 (First Lieutenant)
空军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
|
3等空尉 Santō kūi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
空军中尉 (First Lieutenant)
空军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
|
准空尉 Jun kūi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
空军中尉 (First Lieutenant)
空军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
空曹長 Kūsōchō
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
空军一级军士长 (Master sergeant first class)
|
1等空曹 Ittō kūsō
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
空军二级军士长 (Master sergeant second class)
|
2等空曹 Nitō kūsō
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
空军三级军士长 (Master sergeant third class)
|
3等空曹 Santō kūsō
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
空军一级上士 (Technical sergeant)
|
空士長 Kūshichō
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
空军下士 (Corporal)
|
1等空士 Ittō kūshi
|
OR-2 Private |
空军上等兵 (Airman First Class)
|
2等空士 Nitō kūshi
|
OR-1 Private |
空军列兵 (Airman)
|
Overview
The armed forces of Japan, known as the "Japan Self-Defense Forces" (JSDF) or "自衛隊" (Jieitai), consist of several branches, each with specific responsibilities:
- Ground Self-Defense Force (陸上自衛隊 - Rikujou Jieitai): The Ground Self-Defense Force is responsible for land-based military operations, including infantry, armored units, artillery, and support units. It plays a crucial role in national defense and security.
- Maritime Self-Defense Force (海上自衛隊 - Kaijou Jieitai): The Maritime Self-Defense Force focuses on maritime defense and security, operating various vessels, including destroyers, submarines, and patrol boats, to protect Japan's extensive coastline and maritime interests.
- Air Self-Defense Force (航空自衛隊 - Koukuu Jieitai): The Air Self-Defense Force is responsible for aerial defense and operations, with fighter aircraft, transport planes, helicopters, and air defense systems ensuring air superiority and national defense.
Japan Military
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Insignia image credits
- Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons: 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, 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, 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, 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, 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
- Skjoldbro — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: 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