Military ranks and insignia of the Japan Self-Defense Forces

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 ).

Ground Self-Defense Force

Ranks are listed with the lowest rank at the bottom right corner and advances to the left, wrapping to the right-most side at the next line up. The highest rank is at the top left.

Maritime Self-Defense Force

Ranks are listed with the lowest rank at the bottom right corner and advances to the left, wrapping to the right-most side at the...
Read More