Ranks of the Imperial Japanese Army

The following tables present the rank insignia of the Imperial Japanese Army before and during World War II. These designs were worn on shoulders as passants (shoulder straps) between the years 1911 and 1938, then on collars afterwards until 1945, when the army was dissolved.

Imperial Japanese Army uniforms and ranks during World War II (US Army poster)

Imperial Japanese Military
Administration
Imperial General Headquarters
Imperial Japanese Army (Dai Nippon Teikoku Rikugun)
Imperial Japanese Army Air Service Railways and Shipping Section Uniforms
Imperial Japanese Navy (Dai Nippon Teikoku Kaigun)
Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service Imperial Japanese Navy Land Forces Major battles List of ships List of aircraft Main admirals
Rank insignia
Army rank insignia Naval rank insignia
History
Military History of Japan during World War II

The same officer ranks were used for both the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy, the only distinction being the placement of the word Rikugun (army) or Kaigun (navy) before the rank. Thus, for example, a captain in the navy shared the same rank designation as that of a colonel in the army: Taisa (colonel), so the rank of Rikugun Taisa denoted an army colonel, while the rank of Kaigun daisa denoted a naval captain.