IJA Ranks guide

[masterchief]

Imperial Japanese Army
collar insignia
1943 - 1945


Officer ranks

Marshal
Gensui Rikugun Taishô


General
Rikugun Taishô


Lieutenant General
Rikugun Chûjô


Major General
Rikugun Shôshô


Colonel
Rikugun Taisa


Lieutenant Colonel
Rikugun Chûsa


Major
Rikugun Shôsa


Captain
Rikugun Taii


Lieutenant (equalt to US Army - First Lieutenant)
Rikugun Chûi


Second Lieutenant
Rikugun Shôi


Warrant Officer
Rikugun Jun-i (Army First Officer)

Enlisted ranks


Sergeant Major
Sôchô


Sergeant
Gunsô


Corporal
Gochô

Acting Corporal
Gochô Kimmu jôtôhei


Lance-Corporal
Heichô


Superior Private
Jôtôhei

Acting Superior Private
Jôtôhei Kimmusha


Private 1st Class
Ittôhei


Private 2nd Class
Nitôhei

Recruit

[kalbs]

Nice post. Did the Navy have the same ranking for it's ground forces and japanese marines?

[masterchief]

Nope, apparently not. The Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces or marine infantry units were officially known as Rikusentai. They used Navy ranks instead of the Army rank insignia. I made a thread for the SNFL ;D:

ww2airsoft-asia.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=japan&thread=89

I’m just having a hard time looking for reference pictures on the SNFL enlisted men’s insignia red on green round ratings (early war) & red on blue round ratings (late war) on the upper sleeves. But if I do find it, I’ll post it.

[kalbs]

I found this but I'm not sure how it is worn
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_ranks_of_the_Japanese_Empire_during_World_War_II

www.uniforminsignia.net/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1357

[masterchief]

Good one kalbs, the second one you posted had the Enlisted men round ratings stitched on the upper sleeves on the IJA’s M98.

The officers rank insignia was worn with their Service dress, this was used on board ships with their standard IJN blue or white uniforms.

Great find. I’ll post it for reference.