Japanese Military Ranks 🇯🇵

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

Japan military personnel in dress uniforms

Air Force

Rank name Insignia NATO code US Army equivalent
幕僚長たる空将 Bakuryōchō-taru-kūshō Japan Air Force 幕僚長たる空将 Bakuryōchō-taru-kūshō insignia OF-9 General
空将 Kūshō Japan Air Force 空将 Kūshō insignia OF-8 Lieutenant General
空将補 Kūshō-ho Japan Air Force 空将補 Kūshō-ho insignia OF-7 Major General
1等空佐 Ittō kūsa Japan Air Force 1等空佐 Ittō kūsa insignia OF-5 Colonel
2等空佐 Nitō kūsa Japan Air Force 2等空佐 Nitō kūsa insignia OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel
3等空佐 Santō kūsa Japan Air Force 3等空佐 Santō kūsa insignia OF-3 Major / Commandant
1等空尉 Ittō kūi Japan Air Force 1等空尉 Ittō kūi insignia OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant
2等空尉 Nitō kūi Japan Air Force 2等空尉 Nitō kūi insignia OF-1 Lieutenant
3等空尉 Santō kūi Japan Air Force 3等空尉 Santō kūi insignia OF-1 Lieutenant
准空尉 Jun kūi Japan Air Force 准空尉 Jun kūi insignia OF-1 Lieutenant
空曹長 Kūsōchō Japan Air Force 空曹長 Kūsōchō insignia OR-9 Sergeant Major
1等空曹 Ittō kūsō Japan Air Force 1等空曹 Ittō kūsō insignia OR-8 1st Sergeant
2等空曹 Nitō kūsō Japan Air Force 2等空曹 Nitō kūsō insignia OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class
3等空曹 Santō kūsō Japan Air Force 3等空曹 Santō kūsō insignia OR-6 Staff Sergeant
空士長 Kūshichō Japan Air Force 空士長 Kūshichō insignia OR-3 Private 1st Class
1等空士 Ittō kūshi Japan Air Force 1等空士 Ittō kūshi insignia OR-2 Private
2等空士 Nitō kūshi Japan Air Force 2等空士 Nitō kūshi insignia OR-1 Private

Army

Rank name Insignia NATO code US Army equivalent
幕僚長たる陸将 Bakuryōchō-taru-rikushō Japan Army 幕僚長たる陸将 Bakuryōchō-taru-rikushō insignia OF-9 General
陸将 Rikushō Japan Army 陸将 Rikushō insignia OF-8 Lieutenant General
陸将補 Rikushō-ho Japan Army 陸将補 Rikushō-ho insignia OF-7 Major General
1等陸佐 Ittō rikusa Japan Army 1等陸佐 Ittō rikusa insignia OF-5 Colonel
2等陸佐 Nitō rikusa Japan Army 2等陸佐 Nitō rikusa insignia OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel
3等陸佐 Santō rikusa Japan Army 3等陸佐 Santō rikusa insignia OF-3 Major / Commandant
1等陸尉 Ittō rikui Japan Army 1等陸尉 Ittō rikui insignia OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant
2等陸尉 Nitō rikui Japan Army 2等陸尉 Nitō rikui insignia OF-1 Lieutenant
3等陸尉 Santō rikui Japan Army 3等陸尉 Santō rikui insignia OF-1 Lieutenant
准陸尉 Jun rikui Japan Army 准陸尉 Jun rikui insignia OF-1 Lieutenant
陸曹長 Rikusōchō Japan Army 陸曹長 Rikusōchō insignia OR-9 Sergeant Major
1等陸曹 Ittō rikusō Japan Army 1等陸曹 Ittō rikusō insignia OR-8 1st Sergeant
2等陸曹 Nitō rikusō Japan Army 2等陸曹 Nitō rikusō insignia OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class
3等陸曹 Santō rikusō Japan Army 3等陸曹 Santō rikusō insignia OR-6 Staff Sergeant
陸士長 Rikushichō Japan Army 陸士長 Rikushichō insignia OR-3 Private 1st Class
1等陸士 Ittō rikushi Japan Army 1等陸士 Ittō rikushi insignia OR-2 Private
2等陸士 Nitō rikushi Japan Army 2等陸士 Nitō rikushi insignia OR-1 Private

Navy

Rank name Insignia NATO code US Army equivalent
幕僚長たる海将 Bakuryōchō-taru-kaishō Japan Navy 幕僚長たる海将 Bakuryōchō-taru-kaishō insignia OF-9 General
海将 Kaishō Japan Navy 海将 Kaishō insignia OF-8 Lieutenant General
海将補 Kaishō-ho Japan Navy 海将補 Kaishō-ho insignia OF-7 Major General
1等海佐 Ittō kaisa Japan Navy 1等海佐 Ittō kaisa insignia OF-5 Colonel
2等海佐 Nitō kaisa Japan Navy 2等海佐 Nitō kaisa insignia OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel
3等海佐 Santō kaisa Japan Navy 3等海佐 Santō kaisa insignia OF-3 Major / Commandant
1等海尉 Ittō kaii Japan Navy 1等海尉 Ittō kaii insignia OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant
2等海尉 Nitō kaii Japan Navy 2等海尉 Nitō kaii insignia OF-1 Lieutenant
3等海尉 Santō kaii Japan Navy 3等海尉 Santō kaii insignia OF-1 Lieutenant
准海尉 Jun kaii Japan Navy 准海尉 Jun kaii insignia OF-1 Lieutenant
海曹長 Kaisōchō Japan Navy 海曹長 Kaisōchō insignia OR-9 Sergeant Major
1等海曹 Ittō kaisō Japan Navy 1等海曹 Ittō kaisō insignia OR-8 1st Sergeant
2等海曹 Nitō kaisō Japan Navy 2等海曹 Nitō kaisō insignia OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class
3等海曹 Santō kaisō Japan Navy 3等海曹 Santō kaisō insignia OR-6 Staff Sergeant
海士長 Kaishichō Japan Navy 海士長 Kaishichō insignia OR-3 Private 1st Class
1等海士 Ittō kaishi Japan Navy 1等海士 Ittō kaishi insignia OR-2 Private
2等海士 Nitō kaishi Japan Navy 2等海士 Nitō kaishi insignia OR-1 Private
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