Japanese Officer ranks are the same for IJA and IJN. The point
of difference is in the translation. If we speak of British terms
then the translation is somewhat
different than American terms. American terms are used for the
following:
Taisho=*General*********=Admiral
Chujo*=*Lt General******=Vice-Admiral
Shosho=*Major General***=Rear Admiral
Taisa*=*Colonel*********=Captain
Chusa*=*Lt Colonel******=Commander
Shosa*=*Major***********=Lt Commander
Taii**=*Captain*********=Lieutenant
Chui**=*Lieutenant******=Lieutenant(JG)
Shoi**=*2nd Lt**********=Ensign
It becomes a problem to compare the enlisted ranks with American
enlisted ranks. There were also changes in the Japanese Naval
enlisted ranks after select dates
which add to the problems.
IJA Enlisted RANKS (with approximate equivalents)
Juni***= Warrant Officer
Socho**= Sergeant Major
Gunso**= Sergeant
Gocho**= Corporal
Heicho*= Lance Corporal (leading Private)
Jotohei= Superior Private
Ittohei= Private First Class
Nitohei= Private
IJN Enlisted Ranks (with approximate equivalents):
PRE-June 1941
Joto (Koku) Heiso**=**(Air) Chief Petty Officer
Itto (Koku) Heiso**=**(Air) Petty Officer First Class
Nito (Koku) Heiso**=**(Air) PO2c
Santo (Koku) Heiso*=**(Air) PO3c
Itto (Koku) Hei****=**(Air) Airman 1c
Nito (Koku) Hei****=**(Air) Airman 2c
Santo (Koku) Hei***=**(Air) Airman 3c
POST-June 1941
Joto (Hiko) Heiso**=**(Flight) Chief Petty Officer
Itto (Hiko) Heiso**=**(Flight) PO1c
Nito (Hiko) Heiso**=**(Flight) PO2c
Santo (Hiko) Heiso*=**(Flight) PO3c
Itto (Hiko) Hei****=**Flyer 1c
Nito (Hiko) Hei****=**Flyer 2c
Santo (Hiko) Hei***=**Flyer 3c
After November 1942, the (Hiko) Heicho 'Assistant (Flight) Petty
Officer' and a Joto (Hiko) Hei 'Chief Flyer' REPLACED the Santo
(Hiko) Heiso 'PO3c' and the Flyer ranks given above.
The additional term "Koku" or "Hiko"
determines the aeronautical nature of the aviator job. This is
"understood" in aeronautical texts and thus left out of
many books.
The difference between Japanese Naval ratings is similar to US
Navy ratings. A Japanese Seaman First Class, for example, has
crossed anchors on his rank badge, the Japanese Airman First
Class has crossed aircraft, the Japanese Mechanic First Class has
crossed wrenches, etc.
The range of NAVAL aviators IN COMBAT is (usually) "Flyer
1c" and above. Those lower ranks of "Flyer 2c",
"Flyer 3c" are in training schools. Again usually, the
top NAVAL flying officer "Hikotaicho"(on a CV)
/"Kokutaicho"(in land units) is "Lt
Commander"; with the "Commander" slot going to a
non-flying officer (most times of aviation experience) as
"Hikocho". As the war progressed, several
"Hikocho" positioned men were placed in combat flight
"slots" as
"Hikotaicho"/"Kokutaicho".
Of interest, the ground crews for the aircraft had the same
rank system except for the word "Hiko"/"Koku"
was replaced by "Seibi". The Itto (Seibi) Hei also had
crossed aircraft rank badge...but the crossed aircraft were
"in profile", rather than like the Itto (Hiko) Hei,
which had top views of the crossed aircraft.