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 between the years 1911 and 1938, then on collars afterwards until 1945, when the army was dissolved.
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 or Kaigun 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, so the rank of Rikugun Taisa denoted an army colonel, while the rank of Kaigun daisa denoted a naval captain.Officer ranks
