Military ranks and insignia of the Japan Self-Defense Forces

Military of Japan
Service branches	Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Manpower
Military age	18 to 27 years of age
Available for military service	27,003,112 males, age 18–49 (2005 est.), 26,153,482 females, age 18–49 (2005 est.)
Fit for military service	22,234,663 males, age 18–49 (2005 est.), 21,494,947 females, age 18–49 (2005 est.)
Reaching military age annually	683,147 males (2005 est.), 650,157 females (2005 est.)
Active personnel	239,000 (ranked 24th)
Expenditures
Budget	$44.3 billion (2005)
Percent of GDP	1% (2004)

After the end of World War II in Asia following 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-Defense Forces, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force which have, since 1952, replaced the imperial military. The 1938–1945 Japanese military and naval ranks were phased out after World War II. The self-defense force breaks away from the Sino-centric tradition of non-branch-specified ranks, each SDF 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 (sea) for the naval ranks, and kuu (air) for the aviation ranks.

The pentagramic stars on some 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

Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.

Officer & warrant officer
（幹部・准尉）

Insignia	OF-9 General （統合・陸上幕僚長 たる陸将）	OF-8 Lieutenant general （陸将, rikushou）[1]	OF-7 Major general （陸将補, shouho）[2]	OF-5 Colonel （1等陸佐, issa）	OF-4 Lieutenant colonel （2等陸佐, nisa）	OF-3 Major （3等陸佐, sansa）	OF-2 Captain （1等陸尉, ichi-i）	OF-1 First lieutenant （2等陸尉, ni-i）	OF-1 Second lieutenant （3等陸尉, san-i）	OR-9 Warrant officer （准陸尉, jun-i）
Type A （甲階級章）
Type B （乙階級章）
Miniature （略章）

Enlisted
（曹・士）

Insignia	OR-8 Sergeant major （陸曹長）	OR-7 Master sergeant （1等陸曹）	OR-6 Sergeant first class （2等陸曹）	OR-5 Sergeant （3等陸曹）	OR-3 Leading private （陸士長）	OR-2 Private first class （1等陸士）	OR-1 Private （2等陸士）
Type A （甲階級章）
Type B （乙階級章）
Miniature （略章）

Maritime self-defense force

Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.

Officer & warrant officer
（幹部・准尉）

Insignia	OF-9 Admiral （統合・海上幕僚長 たる海将）	OF-8 Vice admiral （海将）	OF-7 Rear admiral （海将補）	OF-5 Captain （1等海佐）	OF-4 Commander （2等海佐）	OF-3 Lieutenant commander （3等海佐）	OF-2 Lieutenant （1等海尉）	OF-1 Lieutenant Junior grade （2等海尉）	OF-1 Ensign （3等海尉）	OR-9 Warrant officer （准海尉）
Type A （甲階級章）
Type B （乙階級章）
Type C （丙階級章）
Miniature （略章）

Enlisted
（曹・士）

Insignia	OR-8 Chief petty officer （海曹長）	OR-7 Petty officer first class （1等海曹）	OR-6 Petty officer second class （2等海曹）	OR-5 Petty officer third class （3等海曹）	OR-3 Leading seaman （海士長）	OR-2 Seaman （1等海士）	OR-1 Seaman apprentice （2等海士）
Type A （甲階級章）
Type B （乙階級章）
Type C （丙階級章）
Miniature （略章）

Air self-defense force

Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.

Officer & warrant officer
（幹部・准尉）

Insignia	OF-9 General （統合・航空幕僚長 たる空将）	OF-8 Lieutenant general （空将）	OF-7 Major general （空将補）	OF-5 Colonel （1等空佐）	OF-4 Lieutenant colonel （2等空佐）	OF-3 Major （3等空佐）	OF-2 Captain （1等空尉）	OF-1 First lieutenant （2等空尉）	OF-1 Second lieutenant （3等空尉）	OR-9 Warrant officer （准空尉）
Type A （甲階級章）
Type B （乙階級章）
Miniature （略章）

Enlisted
（曹・士）

Insignia	OR-8 Senior master sergeant （空曹長）	OR-7 Master sergeant （1等空曹）	OR-6 Technical sergeant （2等空曹）	OR-5 Staff sergeant （3等空曹）	OR-3 Airman first class （空士長）	OR-2 Airman （1等空士）	OR-1 Airman basic （2等空士）
Type A （甲階級章）
Type B （乙階級章）
Miniature （略章）

See also

• Comparative military ranks

References

1. The rank of division commander.
2. The rank of brigade commander.

External links

• The International Encyclopedia of Uniform and Rank Insignia around the World
• Insignia 階級章（自衛隊大阪地方協力本部）(Japanese)