🇯🇵
Japan vs South Korea 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 South Korean 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 |
대장 大將 Daejang
|
陸将 Rikushō
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
중장 中將 Jungjang
|
陸将補 Rikushō-ho
|
OF-7 Major General |
소장 小將 Sojang
|
1等陸佐 Ittō rikusa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
대령 大領 Daeryeong
|
2等陸佐 Nitō rikusa
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
중령 中領 Jungnyeong
|
3等陸佐 Santō rikusa
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
소령 少領 Soryeong
|
1等陸尉 Ittō rikui
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
대위 大尉 Daewi
|
2等陸尉 Nitō rikui
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
중위 中尉 Jungwi
소위 小尉 Sowi
|
3等陸尉 Santō rikui
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
중위 中尉 Jungwi
소위 小尉 Sowi
|
准陸尉 Jun rikui
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
중위 中尉 Jungwi
소위 小尉 Sowi
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
陸曹長 Rikusōchō
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
원사 元士 Wonsa
|
1等陸曹 Ittō rikusō
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
상사 上士 Sangsa
|
2等陸曹 Nitō rikusō
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
중사 中士 Jungsa
|
3等陸曹 Santō rikusō
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
하사 下士 Hasa
|
陸士長 Rikushichō
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
상등병 上等兵 Sangdeungbyeong
|
1等陸士 Ittō rikushi
|
OR-2 Private |
일등병 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong
|
2等陸士 Nitō rikushi
|
OR-1 Private |
이등병 二等兵 Ideungbyeong
|
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 |
대장 大將 Daejang
|
海将 Kaishō
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
중장 中將 Jungjang
|
海将補 Kaishō-ho
|
OF-7 Major General |
소장 小將 Sojang
|
1等海佐 Ittō kaisa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
대령 大領 Daeryeong
|
2等海佐 Nitō kaisa
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
중령 中領 Jungnyeong
|
3等海佐 Santō kaisa
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
소령 少領 Soryeong
|
1等海尉 Ittō kaii
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
대위 大尉 Daewi
|
2等海尉 Nitō kaii
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
중위 中尉 Jungwi
소위 小尉 Sowi
|
3等海尉 Santō kaii
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
중위 中尉 Jungwi
소위 小尉 Sowi
|
准海尉 Jun kaii
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
중위 中尉 Jungwi
소위 小尉 Sowi
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
海曹長 Kaisōchō
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
원사 元士 Wonsa
|
1等海曹 Ittō kaisō
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
상사 上士 Sangsa
|
2等海曹 Nitō kaisō
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
중사 中士 Jungsa
|
3等海曹 Santō kaisō
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
하사 下士 Hasa
|
海士長 Kaishichō
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
상등병 上等兵 Sangdeungbyeong
|
1等海士 Ittō kaishi
|
OR-2 Private |
일등병 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong
|
2等海士 Nitō kaishi
|
OR-1 Private |
이등병 二等兵 Ideungbyeong
|
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 |
대장 大將 Daejang
|
空将 Kūshō
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
중장 中將 Jungjang
|
空将補 Kūshō-ho
|
OF-7 Major General |
소장 小將 Sojang
|
1等空佐 Ittō kūsa
|
OF-5 Colonel |
대령 大領 Daeryeong
|
2等空佐 Nitō kūsa
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
중령 中領 Jungnyeong
|
3等空佐 Santō kūsa
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
소령 少領 Soryeong
|
1等空尉 Ittō kūi
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
대위 大尉 Daewi
|
2等空尉 Nitō kūi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
중위 中尉 Jungwi
소위 小尉 Sowi
|
3等空尉 Santō kūi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
중위 中尉 Jungwi
소위 小尉 Sowi
|
准空尉 Jun kūi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
중위 中尉 Jungwi
소위 小尉 Sowi
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
空曹長 Kūsōchō
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
원사 元士 Wonsa
|
1等空曹 Ittō kūsō
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
상사 上士 Sangsa
|
2等空曹 Nitō kūsō
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
중사 中士 Jungsa
|
3等空曹 Santō kūsō
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
하사 下士 Hasa
|
空士長 Kūshichō
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
상등병 上等兵 Sangdeungbyeong
|
1等空士 Ittō kūshi
|
OR-2 Private |
일등병 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong
|
2等空士 Nitō kūshi
|
OR-1 Private |
이등병 二等兵 Ideungbyeong
|
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