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Following the end of World War II in Asia, after 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-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 1938-1945 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 k? (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.

Remarks

• An inauguration of the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff () wears Emblem of the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff () on the left chest.
• The published NATO code is of reference level. There is no legal provision of NATO code in the JSDF.
• The classification of rank of general officers and flag officers listed is limited to Japan. For JSDF's general officer and flag officer, there is a rank classification that matches foreign armed forces such as United States Armed Forces, which is determined by the post.

Ground Self-Defense Force

Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.

Officer()

NATO Code	OF-9	OF-8		OF-7	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
		(OF-8)[2]	(OF-7)[2]	(OF-6)[2]
Rank	() (Rikush? serving as Chief of Staff)	(Rikush?) (Army commander)	(Divisional commander)	(Rikush?-ho)	1 (Itt? rikusa)	2 (Nit? rikusa)	3 (Sant? rikusa)	1 (Itt? rikui)	2 (Nit? rikui)	3 (Sant? rikui)
Abbreviation	-	-		(Sh?-ho)	1? (Issa)	2? (Nisa)	3? (Sansa)	1? (Ichii)	2? (Nii)	3? (San-i)
English translation	General Army general[3][4]	Lieutenant general Divisional general[3]		Major General Brigade general[3]	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major	Captain	First lieutenant	Second lieutenant
Insignia Type A (?)
Insignia Type B (?)
Insignia Miniature Type ()

Warrant Officer & Enlisted (?)

NATO Code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1	OR-D
Rank	(Jun rikui)	(Rikus?ch?)	1 (Itt? rikus?)	2 (Nit? rikus?)	3 (Sant? rikus?)	(Rikushich?)	1 (Itt? rikushi)	2 (Nit? rikushi)	(Jieikan k?hosei)
Abbreviation	(Jun-i)	(S?ch?)	1? (Iss?)	2? (Nis?)	3? (Sans?)	(Shich?)	1? (Isshi)	2? (Nishi)	(Jik?sei)
English translation	Warrant Officer	Sergeant major	Master sergeant	Sergeant first class	Sergeant	Leading Private	Private first class	Private	Self-defense official cadet
Insignia Type A (?)
Insignia Type B (?)
Insignia Miniature Type ()									No insignia

Maritime Self-Defense Force

Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.

Officer()

NATO Code	OF-9	OF-8		OF-7	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
		(OF-8)[2]	(OF-7)[2]	(OF-6)[2]
Rank	() (Kaish? serving as Chief of Staff)	(Kaish?) (Commander in chief of the fleet)	(Commander of the type force)	(Kaish?-ho)	1 (Itt? kaisa)	2 (Nit? kaisa)	3 (Sant? kaisa)	1 (Itt? kaii)	2 (Nit? kaii)	3 (Sant? kaii)
Abbreviation	-	-		(Sh?-ho)	1? (Issa)	2? (Nisa)	3? (Sansa)	1? (Ichii)	2? (Nii)	3? (San-i)
English translation	Admiral	Vice admiral		Rear admiral	Captain	Commander	Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant	Lieutenant junior grade	Ensign
Insignia Type A (?)
Insignia Type B (?)
Insignia Type C (?)
Insignia Miniature Type ()

Warrant Officer & Enlisted(?)

NATO Code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1	OR-D
Rank	(Jun kaii)	(Kais?ch?)	1 (Itt? kais?)	2 (Nit? kais?)	3 (Sant? kais?)	(Kaishich?)	1 (Itt? kaishi)	2 (Nit? kaishi)	(Jieikan k?hosei)
Abbreviation	(Jun-i)	(S?ch?)	1? (Iss?)	2? (Nis?)	3? (Sans?)	(Shich?)	1? (Isshi)	2? (Nishi)	(Jik?sei)
English translation	Warrant Officer	Chief petty officer	Petty officer first class	Petty officer second class	Petty officer third class	Leading seaman	Seaman	Seaman apprentice	Self-defence official cadet
Insignia Type A (?)
Insignia Type B (?)
Insignia Type C (?)									No insignia
Insignia Miniature Type ()									No insignia

Air Self-Defense Force

Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.

Officer()

NATO Code	OF-9	OF-8		OF-7	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
		(OF-8)[2]	(OF-7)[2]	(OF-6)[2]
Rank	() (K?sh? serving as Chief of Staff)	(K?sh?) (Commander of the major command)	(Commander of the air force)	(K?sh?-ho)	1 (Itt? k?sa)	2 (Nit? k?sa)	3 (Sant? k?sa)	1 (Itt? k?i)	2 (Nit? k?i)	3 (Sant? k?i)
Abbreviation	-	-		(Sh?-ho)	1? (Issa)	2? (Nisa)	3? (Sansa)	1? (Ichii)	2? (Nii)	3? (San-i)
English translation	General Army general[3]	Lieutenant general Divisional general[3]		Major general Brigade general[3]	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major	Captain	First lieutenant	Second lieutenant
Insignia Type A (?)
Insignia Type B (?)
Insignia Miniature Type ()

Warrant Officer & Enlisted(?)

NATO Code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1	OR-D
Rank	(Jun k?i)	(K?s?ch?)	1 (Itt? k?s?)	2 (Nit? k?s?)	3 (Sant? k?s?)	(K?shich?)	1 (Itt? k?shi)	2 (Nit? k?shi)	(Jieikan k?hosei)
Abbreviation	(Jun-i)	(S?ch?)	1? (Iss?)	2? (Nis?)	3? (Sans?)	(Shich?)	1? (Isshi)	2? (Nishi)	(Jik?sei)
English translation	Warrant Officer	Senior master sergeant	Master sergeant	Technical sergeant	Staff sergeant	Airman first class	Airman second class	Airman third class	Self-defence official cadet
Insignia Type A (?)
Insignia Type B (?)
Insignia Miniature Type ()									No insignia

See also

• Comparative military ranks

References

External links

• The International Encyclopedia of Uniform and Rank Insignia around the World