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 21st)
Expenditures
Budget	$44.3 billion (2005)
Percent of GDP	1% (2004)

After World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy were dissolved by the United States during the occupation of Japan. The symbols below represent the ranks of the Japanese 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 (see Japanese kamikaze-manned rocket weapon Ouka (cherry blossom)).

Ground Self-Defense Force

Ranks are listed with the lower rank at right.

Officer & Warrant Officer
（幹部・准尉）

Insignia	General （統合・陸上 幕僚長）	Lieutenant General （将）	Major General （将補）	Colonel （1佐）	Lieutenant Colonel （2佐）	Major （3佐）	Captain （1尉）	First Lieutenant （2尉）	Second Lieutenant （3尉）	Warrant Officer （准尉）
Type A （甲階級章）
Type B （乙階級章）
Miniature （略章）

Enlisted
（曹・士）

Insignia	Sergeant Major （曹長）	Master Sergeant （1曹）	Sergeant First Class （2曹）	Sergeant （3曹）	Corporal （士長）	Private First Class （1士）	Private （2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	Admiral （統合・海上 幕僚長）	Vice Admiral （将）	Rear Admiral （将補）	Captain （1佐）	Commander （2佐）	Lieutenant Commander （3佐）	Lieutenant （1尉）	Lieutenant Junior Grade （2尉）	Ensign （3尉）	Warrant Officer （准尉）
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	Chief Petty Officer （曹長）	Petty Officer 1st Class （1曹）	Petty Officer 2nd Class （2曹）	Petty Officer 3rd Class （3曹）	Leading Seaman （士長）	Seaman （1士）	Seaman Apprentice （2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	General （統合・航空 幕僚長）	Lieutenant General （将）	Major General （将補）	Colonel （1佐）	Lieutenant Colonel （2佐）	Major （3佐）	Captain （1尉）	First Lieutenant （2尉）	Second Lieutenant （3尉）	Warrant Officer （准尉）
Type A （甲階級章）
Type B （乙階級章）
Miniature （略章）

Enlisted
（曹・士）

Insignia	Senior Master Sergeant （曹長）	Master Sergeant （1曹）	Technical Sergeant （2曹）	Staff Sergeant （3曹）	Airman 1st Class （士長）	Airman Class （1士）	Airman Basic （2士）
Type A （甲階級章）
Type B （乙階級章）
Miniature （略章）

See also

• Comparative military ranks

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)