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((Short description|none))
((multiple issues|1=
((more citations needed|date=October 2022))
((Page numbers needed|date=October 2022))
))
((ImperialJapaneseMilitary))

The '''Ranks of the Imperial Japanese Navy''' were the [[Military rank|rank]] insignia of the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]], used from its creation in 1868, until its [[Potsdam Declaration|dissolution in 1945]] following the [[Surrender of Japan]] in [[World War II]]. The ranks were inspired by the [[Royal Navy officer rank insignia|ranks of the Royal Navy]].((sfn|Rosignoli|1983|page=348))

The officer rank names were used for both the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy, the only distinction being the placement of the word ((lang|ja-Latn|Rikugun)) (army) or ((lang|ja-Latn|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: ((lang|ja-Latn|Taisa)) (colonel), so the rank of ((lang|ja-Latn|Rikugun Taisa)) denoted an army colonel, while the rank of ((lang|ja-Latn|Kaigun daisa)) denoted a naval captain.((sfn|Rosignoli|1983|page=348))

== Commissioned officer ranks ==
===Ranks===
All [[commissioned officer]] rank names were the same as their army counterparts. The navy would prefix the common rank names with "navy" (((lang-ja|海軍|Kaigun))), while the army would prefix them with "army" (((lang-ja|陸軍|Rikugun))). There was a minor difference in pronunciation of character ((lang|ja|大)) for Navy Lieutenant and Navy Captain. The navy pronounced it as ((lang|ja-latn|Dai)), while the army pronounced it as ((lang|ja-latn|Tai)). However, this pronunciation difference was not officially enacted.

Regular Officers (((lang-ja|将校|Shōkō))) were graduates of [[Imperial Japanese Naval Academy]]. Reserve Officers (((lang-ja|予備将校|Yobi-shōkō))) were university or college graduates, as opposed to going through the naval academy. Special Duty Officers (((lang-ja|特務士官|Tokumu-shikan))) were the officers with the rank of Lieutenant or below, who were promoted from the rank of Warrant Officer (starting from the enlisted ranks).((sfn|Tagaya|2003|p=))((page needed|date=October 2022))((sfn|Lundstrom|2005a|pp=454-457))((sfn|Lundstrom|2005b|p=491)) Typically the ranks discriminated in a way that the priority of taking command for Special Duty Officers was lower than that of Regular Officers or Reserve Officers.((efn|Navy Land Forces and some Naval Air Service used to neglect this system to focus more on the rank itself, regardless of Reserve or Special Duty Officer status.)) The distinction between Special Duty Officers and Regular/Reserve Officers was also highlighted in the rank insignia (see the table for details).

The rank Commodore was not established but the Captain who was commanding the central ship in the fleet, usually close to being promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, or acting as the unit commander (which was usually held by a Rear-Admiral) nominally became a flag officer by raising the "Commodore Flag".

{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
((Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank))
|- style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;"
| '''Title'''
| colspan=2| ((lang|ja|大元帥海軍大将))<br />((lang|ja-latn|[[Dai-gensui|Daigensui-kaigun-taishō]]))
| colspan=2| ((lang|ja|海軍大将))<br />((lang|ja-latn|[[Jiang (rank)|Kaigun-taishō]]))((efn|Same rank insignia used for the ((lang|ja-Latn|[[Gensui (Imperial Japanese Navy)|Gensui-kaigun-taishō]])) (((lang|ja|元帥海軍大将))), worn with an [[:File:元帥徽章.svg|additional badge]].))
| colspan=2| ((lang|ja|海軍中将))<br />((lang|ja-latn|[[Jiang (rank)|Kaigun-chūjō]]))
| colspan=4| ((lang|ja|海軍少将))<br />((lang|ja-latn|[[Jiang (rank)|Kaigun-shōshō]]))
| colspan=2| ((lang|ja|海軍大佐))<br />((lang|ja-latn|[[Sa (rank)|Kaigun-taisa]]))
| colspan=2| ((lang|ja|海軍中佐))<br />((lang|ja-latn|[[Sa (rank)|Kaigun-chūsa]]))
| colspan=2| ((lang|ja|海軍少佐))<br />((lang|ja-latn|[[Sa (rank)|Kaigun-shōsa]]))
| colspan=2| ((lang|ja|海軍大尉))<br />((lang|ja-latn|[[Wei (rank)|Kaigun-tai-i]]))
| colspan=2| ((lang|ja|海軍中尉))<br />((lang|ja-latn|[[Wei (rank)|Kaigun-chūi]]))
| colspan=2| ((lang|ja|海軍少尉))<br />((lang|ja-latn|[[Wei (rank)|Kaigun-shōi]]))
| colspan=2| ((lang|ja|海軍少尉候補生)) & ((lang|ja|兵曹長))<br />((lang|ja-latn|Kaigun-shōi-kōhosei)) & ((lang|ja-latn|Heisōchō))
| colspan=2| ((nihongo|海軍兵学校生徒<br>|Kaigun-heigakō-seito))
|- style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;"
| '''Translation'''((sfn|Rosignoli|1983|loc=Plate 53–54))((sfn|Mollo|2001|p=187))
| colspan=2| [[Commander-in-chief]]
| colspan=2| [[Admiral]]
| colspan=2| [[Vice admiral]]
| colspan=4| [[Rear admiral]]
| colspan=2| [[Captain (naval)|Captain]]
| colspan=2| [[Commander]]
| colspan=2| [[Lieutenant commander]]
| colspan=2| [[Lieutenant (navy)|Lieutenant]]
| colspan=2| [[Sub-lieutenant]]
| colspan=2| [[Ensign (rank)|Ensign]]
| colspan=2| [[Midshipman]] & [[Warrant Officer]]
| colspan=2| [[Cadet]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''Collar'''<br />service uniform((sfn|Rosignoli|1983|loc=Plate 55))((sfn|Mollo|2001|p=187))
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-10-collar.svg|100px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-9-collar.svg|100px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-8-collar.svg|100px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-7-collar.svg|100px]]
| colspan=2 rowspan=7| <!--None-->
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-5-collar.svg|100px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-4-collar.svg|100px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-3-collar.svg|100px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-2-collar.svg|100px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-1b-collar.svg|100px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-1a-collar.svg|100px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-WO-collar.svg|100px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-(D)-collar.svg|100px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''Shoulder'''<br />white uniform((sfn|Mollo|2001|p=187))((sfn|Rosignoli|1983|loc=Plate 53–54))
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-10-shoulder.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-9-shoulder.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-8-shoulder.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-7-shoulder.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-5-shoulder.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-4-shoulder.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-3-shoulder.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-2-shoulder.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-1b-shoulder.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-1a-shoulder.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-Midshipman-shoulder.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-Cadet-shoulder.svg|50px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''Sleeve'''<br />M1870 uniform((sfn|Nakanishi|2001|p=69))
| colspan=2| 
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-9 (1870)-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-8 (1870)-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-7 (1870)-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-5 (1870)-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-4 (1870)-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-3 (1870)-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-2 (1870)-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-1c (1870)-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-1b (1870)-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-1a (1870)-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| 
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''Sleeve'''<br />M1871 uniform((sfn|Nakanishi|2001|p=69))
| colspan=2| 
| colspan=2| [[File:Denmark-Navy-OF-9 (1882-1951).svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-8 (1871)-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-7-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-8.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-8.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-4.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-2.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-2.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:blank.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:blank.svg|50px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''Sleeve'''<br />M1883 uniform((sfn|Nakanishi|2001|p=69))
| colspan=2| 
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-9-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-8-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-7-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-8.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:None.svg|50px]]<ref>The commander's sleeve rank insignia on model 1883 continued until 1914, with one thin stripe and three thick stripes from the cuff.</ref>
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-4.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-3.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-2.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:blank.svg|50px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''Sleeve'''<br />M1914 uniform((sfn|Nakanishi|2001|p=69))((sfn|Rosignoli|1983|loc=Plate 53–54))((sfn|Mollo|2001|p=187))
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-10-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-9-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-8-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-7-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-8.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-3-sleeve.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-4.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-3.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-2.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-1.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Generic-Navy-0.svg|50px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''Sleeve'''<br />service uniform((sfn|Rosignoli|1983|loc=Plate 53–54))((sfn|Mollo|2001|p=187))
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-10-sleeve (Black).svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-9-sleeve (Black).svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-8-sleeve (Black).svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-7-sleeve (Black).svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-5-sleeve (Black).svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-4-sleeve (Black).svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-3-sleeve (Black).svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-2-sleeve (Black).svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-1b-sleeve (Black).svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-1a-sleeve (Black).svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:blank.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:blank.svg|50px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''Shoulder & sleeve'''<br />Special duty officers((sfn|Rosignoli|1983|loc=Plate 55))
| colspan=16| ((hr))
| colspan=2| ((nobreak|[[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-2-shoulder (Special officer).svg|50px]] [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-2-sleeve (1942).svg|50px]]))
| colspan=2| ((nobreak|[[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-1c-shoulder (Special officer).svg|50px]] [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-1c-sleeve (1942).svg|50px]]))
| colspan=2| ((nobreak|[[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-1b-shoulder (Special officer).svg|50px]] [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-1b-sleeve (1942).svg|50px]]))
| colspan=2| ((nobreak|[[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-Warrant Officer-shoulder.svg|50px]] [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-1a-sleeve (1942).svg|50px]]))
|}

===Rank flags===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|- 
! Rank
! Admiral
! Vice admiral
! Rear admiral
|-
! (1870–1871)
| rowspan=2| [[File:Flag of the Imperial Japanese Navy Admiral 1871-1889.svg|75px]]
| [[File:Flag of the Imperial Japanese Navy Vice Admiral 1870-1871.svg|75px]]
| [[File:Flag of the Imperial Japanese Navy Rear Admiral 1870-1871.svg|75px]]
|-
! (1871–1889)
| [[File:Flag of the Imperial Japanese Navy Vice Admiral 1871-1889.svg|75px]]
| [[File:Flag of the Imperial Japanese Navy Rear Admiral 1871-1889.svg|75px]]
|-
! (1889–1896)
| rowspan=2| [[File:Flag of the Imperial Japanese Navy Admiral 1889-1896.svg|75px|border]]
| [[File:Flag of the Imperial Japanese Navy Vice Admiral 1889-1896.svg|75px|border]]
| [[File:Flag of the Imperial Japanese Navy Rear Admiral 1889-1896.svg|75px|border]]
|-
! (1896–1945)((sfn|OKM|1939|pp=94–95))
| [[File:Standard of Vice Admiral of Imperial Japanese Navy.svg|75px|border]]
| [[File:Standard of Rear Admiral of Imperial Japanese Navy.svg|75px|border]]
|}

==Cadet and warrant officer ranks==
Midshipman and Warrant Officer's collar insignia are the same (both were treated as officer-equivalent), but in detail, the midshipman's position is above Warrant Officer. Furthermore, midshipman rank was not via commissioned, but it was via ordered or warranted. Cadet is much more likely to be classified as slightly higher than a non-commissioned officer, since the cap's line is only one, compared to the commissioned officer's cap which has two lines and the type 3 uniform is based on the enlisted personnel.

See the table below for details regarding the cadet/WO ranks and insignia:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=3| Insignia((sfn|Mollo|2001|p=187))
! rowspan=2| Title
! rowspan=2| Translation
|-
! Collar
! Shoulder
! Sleeve
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan="3" | [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-WO-collar.svg|100px]]
| rowspan="3" | [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-Midshipman-shoulder.svg|50px]]
| rowspan="3" | [[File:Generic-Navy-1.svg|50px]]
| ((nihongo|海軍少尉候補生<br>|Kaigun-shōi-kōhosei))<br />((nihongo|海軍予備少尉候補生<br>|Kaigun-yobi-shōi-kōhosei))
| [[Midshipman]]/Reserve Midshipman
|- style="text-align:center;"
| ((nihongo|海軍予備学生<br>|Kaigun-yobi-gakusei))
| [[Naval Reserve (Japan)|Reserve student]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
|((nihongo|海軍見習尉官<br>|Kaigun-minarai-ikan))
|Apprentice (specialist branch)
e.g., Apprentice surgeon (Medical branch)
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-WO-collar.svg|100px]]
| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-Warrant Officer-shoulder.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Generic-Navy sleeve.svg|50px]]((efn|Three cherry blossoms were on the sleeve before 1942.((sfn|Nila|2002|p=))((page needed|date=October 2022))))
| ''((nihongo|兵曹長<br>|Heisōchō))''
| [[Warrant Officer]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan="2" | [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-(D)-collar.svg|100px]]
| rowspan="2" | [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-Cadet-shoulder.svg|50px]]
| rowspan="2" | [[File:Generic-Navy-0.svg|50px]]
| ((nihongo|海軍兵学校生徒<br>|Kaigun-heigakō-seito))<br />((nihongo|海軍予備生徒<br>|Kaigun-yobi-seito))
| [[Cadet]]/Reserve cadet
|- style="text-align:center;"
|''((nihongo|海軍委託生<br>|Kaigun-itakusei))''
|
|}

==Non-commissioned officer and enlisted personnel rates==
For seamen and petty officers, which were selected from enlisted men or conscripts and given training in the Navy's service/technical school, the names were different from the army names but were equal in rank. Different service branches within the navy had their specialisation augment the common rank name. For example, [[Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service]] (IJNAF) had "Flight" (飛行 ''Hikō'')((efn|Before June 1941, it was "Aviation" (航空 ''Kōkū'').((sfn|Tagaya|2003|p=))((page needed|date=October 2022)))) incorporated into the common rank name, such as Flight Petty Officer First Class (((lang-ja|一等飛行兵曹|Ittō-hikō-heisō))) or Flight Seaman Second Class (二等飛行兵 ''Nitō-hikō-hei'').((sfn|Hata|Izawa|Shores|2011|p=))((page needed|date=October 2022))((sfn|Tagaya|2003|p=))((page needed|date=October 2022)) For practical use, these rank names were often shortened to 一飛曹 (''Ippisō'') or 二飛 (''Nihi''), respectively.((sfn|Hata|Izawa|Shores|2011|p=))((page needed|date=October 2022)) The enlisted rank insignia were changed in April 1942((sfn|Tagaya|2003|p=))((page needed|date=October 2022)) and the common rank names were updated in November 1942.((sfn|Hata|Izawa|Shores|2011|p=))((page needed|date=October 2022))((sfn|Tagaya|2003|p=))((page needed|date=October 2022))((sfn|Lundstrom|2005b|pp=599-613))

The enlisted insignia prior to changes in 1942 was a round patch that contained one anchor for the lowest grade, two crossed anchors for the middle grade and two crossed anchors with a cherry blossom for the highest grade. The petty officer insignia followed the same pattern but additionally had [[Scrambled egg (uniform)|wreaths]]. The insignia was red on black background for winter dark-blue uniforms (also for [[flight suit]]s), black on white background for summer white uniforms, and red on green background for [[Special Naval Landing Forces]] (SNLF) uniforms. The anchor would be replaced by different symbols for specialised branches; for example, aviation had an aircraft instead.((sfn|Nila|2002|p=))((page needed|date=October 2022)) After the changes in 1942, the insignia was a black patch that was square-shaped on the top and arrow-shaped on the bottom. Inside the patch, all branches had a yellow anchor and one yellow horizontal stripe for the lowest grade, two for the middle grade and three for the highest grade. Similarly as before, the petty officer insignia followed the same pattern but additionally had wreaths. For all ranks there was also a cherry blossom in the middle, which changed its colour based on the branch; for example, light blue represented aviation.((sfn|Nila|2002|p=))((page needed|date=October 2022))

{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|-  bgcolor="#CCCCCC" style="text-align:center;"
! Rank group || colspan=3| Petty officers || colspan=4| Enlisted/Seamen
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=2| '''–1942'''((sfn|Rosignoli|1983|loc=Plate 56–57))
| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OR-6 (old).svg|50px]]
| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OR-5 (old).svg|50px]]
| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OR-4 (old).svg|50px]]
| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OR-3 (old).svg|50px]]
| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OR-2 (old).svg|50px]]
| [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OR-1 (old).svg|50px]]
| [[File:blank.svg|50px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| ((nihongo|一等兵曹<br>|Ittōheisō))
| ((nihongo|二等兵曹<br>|Nitōheisō))
| ((nihongo|三等兵曹<br>|Santōheisō))
| ((nihongo|一等水兵<br>|Ittōsuihei))
| ((nihongo|二等水兵<br>|Nitōsuihei))
| ((nihongo|三等水兵<br>|Santōsuihei))
| ((nihongo|四等水兵<br>|Yontōsuihei))
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Translation
| [[Petty officer first class]]
| [[Petty officer second class]]
| [[Petty officer first class|Petty officer third class]]
| [[Seaman (rank)|Seaman]] first class
| Seaman second class
| Seaman third class
| Seaman fourth class
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=2| '''1942–1945'''((sfn|Rosignoli|1983|loc=Plate 58))((sfn|Mollo|2001|p=187))
| [[File:Rank insignia of jōtōheisō of the Imperial Japanese Navy.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Rank insignia of ittōheisō of the Imperial Japanese Navy.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Rank insignia of nitōheisō of the Imperial Japanese Navy.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Rank insignia of suiheichō of the Imperial Japanese Navy.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Rank insignia of jōtōsuihei of the Imperial Japanese Navy.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Rank insignia of ittōsuihei of the Imperial Japanese Navy.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Rank insignia of nitōsuihei of the Imperial Japanese Navy.svg|50px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| ((nihongo|上等兵曹<br>|Jōtōheisō))
| ((nihongo|一等兵曹<br>|Ittōheisō))
| ((nihongo|二等兵曹<br>|Nitōheisō))
| ((nihongo|水兵長<br>|Suiheichō))
| ((nihongo|上等水兵<br>|Jōtōsuihei))
| ((nihongo|一等水兵<br>|Ittōsuihei))
| ((nihongo|二等水兵<br>|Nitōsuihei))
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Translation
| [[Chief petty officer]]
| [[Petty officer, 1st class|Petty officer first class]]
| [[Petty officer, 2nd class|Petty officer second class]]
| [[Leading seaman]]
| Senior seaman
| Seaman first class
| Seaman second class
|}

==Service branch colours==
The branch of the Navy in which non-executive personnel served was indicated by a colour code. For officers, including midshipmen, it was the colour of cloth placed as background to the cuff stripes, on both sides of the gold lace on the shoulder boards, and as longitudinal piping on the collar patches. Midshipmen and cadets wore a coloured anchor on the cap, which cadets wore on the shoulder boards as well.((sfn|Rosignoli|1983|p=349)) The branch of enlisted men was denoted by the colour of the cherry blossom flower on their rank patch; line personnel using the default gold.

{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=2| Color 
! Branch
|-
| style = "background:violet"|
| Purple
| Engineering((efn|After 1942, the engineering branch (above commissioned officer) were merged with the line branch. Hence, the purple branch colour was used only below Warrant Officer.))
|-
| style="background:brown"| 
| Brown
| Ship and engine construction
|-
| style ="background:#BC8F8F"| 
| Purple-brown
| Ordnance construction
|-
| style ="background:red"| 
| Red
| Medical (surgeon, dentist and pharmacist) and Hospital(Corps)man (combat medic)
|-
| style ="background:#60c000"| 
| Pale green
| Legal
|-
| style ="background:white"| 
| White
| Paymaster
|-
| style="background:black; color:white"| 
| Black
| Executive/Line/Survey officers
|-
| style = "background:cornflowerblue"| 
| Light blue
| [[Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service|Aviation]] (Warrant and Special Duty Officer((efn|After 1942, aviation Special Duty Officer was merged with line Special Duty Officer. Hence, the light blue branch colour was used only below Warrant Officer.))) and Hydrography
|-
| style="background:green"| 
| Green
| Chief carpenters
|-
| style="background:#B0C4DE"| 
| Grey-blue
| Band master (Warrant and Special Duty Officer)
|}

==See also==
* [[Ranks of the Imperial Japanese Army]]
* [[Recruitment in the Imperial Japanese Navy]]
* [[Pilot training in the Imperial Japanese Navy]]

==Notes==
((notelist))

==References==
((reflist|2))

=== Bibliography ===
((refbegin))
* ((cite book |last1=Hata |first1=Ikuhiko |last2=Izawa |first2=Yasuho |last3=Shores |first3=Christopher |year=2011 |title=Japanese Naval Air Force Fighter Units and their aces, 1932-1945 |publisher=Grub Street |location= London, UK |isbn=9781906502843))
* ((cite book |last1=Lundstrom |first1=John B. |year=2005a |edition=New |chapter= |title=The First Team: Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-59114-471-X))
* ((cite book |last1=Lundstrom |first1=John B. |year=2005b |edition=New |title=First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign: Naval Fighter Combat from August to November 1942 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-59114-472-8))
* ((cite book |last1=Mollo |first1=Andrew |author-link1=Andrew Mollo |title=The Armed Forces of World War II: Uniforms, Insignia & Organisation |date=2001 |publisher=Silverdale books |location=Leicester |isbn=1-85605-603-1))
* ((cite book |last1=Nila |first1=Gary |year=2002 |title=Japanese Naval Aviation Uniforms and Equipment 1937-1945 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=1841764655))
* ((cite book |last1=Nakanishi |first1=Ritta |title=Japanese Military Uniforms 1841-1929 |date=2001 |publisher=Dainippon Kaiga Co., Ltd. |isbn=978-4499227377))
* ((cite book |author1=Oberkommando der Marine |author1-link=Oberkommando der Marine |title=Flaggenbuch |date=1992 |orig-date=1939 |publisher=Druck und verlag der reichsdruckerei |location=Berlin |language=de |ref=((harvid|OKM|1939))))
* ((cite book |last1=Rosignoli |first1=Guido |title=Badges and insignia of World War II: Air Force, Naval, Marine |publisher=Blandford Press Ltd. |url=https://archive.org/details/badgesinsigniaof0000rosi_n2n8/mode/2up |url-access=limited |series=Blandford Colour Series |date=1983 |location=New York |isbn=0-671-06008-2))
* ((cite book |last1=Tagaya |first1=Osamu |year=2003 |title=Imperial Japanese Naval Aviator 1937-45 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=1841763853))
* ((cite book |title=Kaigun-fuku-sei |script-title=ja:海軍服制 |trans-title=Naval uniform |date=1901 |publisher=Kawarudo |location=Tokyo |url=https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/845145 |access-date=4 September 2022 |language=ja))
* ((cite book |title=Imperial Japanese Arny and Navy Uniforms and Equipment |date=1975 |publisher=Arms & Armour |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/ImperialJapaneseArnyAndNavyUniformsAndEquipment/mode/2up |access-date=30 October 2022))
((refend))

((Military ranks by country))
((Imperial Japanese Navy))
((World War II))

[[Category:Imperial Japanese Navy|Ranks]]
[[Category:Military ranks of Japan]]
[[Category:Military history of Japan during World War II]]
[[Category:Military insignia]]

[[ja:日本軍と自衛隊の階級#海軍]]
[[vi:Quân hàm của Quân đội Đế quốc Nhật Bản]]

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