Materials of IJN (Rank Structure)

Material - Rank Structure

Imperial Japan's government official grade system

Prior to 1947, Imperial Japan's goverment officials were managed under grade system.

category	appointed by	# grade	example
Shinninkan Direct appointment		Emperor, directly	1	Prime minister, Minister in Cabinet, Governor General, General (Army), Admiral (Navy)
Kotokan Senior officer	Chokuninkan Appointment by Imperial Will	Emperor's will, through Prime minister	2	Vice Minister of central Ministries, Regional administrative official, Lieutenant Gen and Major Gen (Army), Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral (Navy)
Soninkan Appointment with Imperial Consent	Primie Minister, with Imperial Consent	7	Leading offical in central or regional Government, Commissioned officer (Army and Navy)
Hanningan Appoint under delegation		Ministers or higher officials, under Imperial delegation	4	Clerk in central or regional government office, Warrant officer or Non-commissioned officer (Army and Navy)

Smaller grade number means higher grade. "1st grade" means the most senior in the category. "Chokuninkan 1st grade" (say "C-1" subsequently) was also "Kotokan 1st grade" (K-1). "Soninkan 1st grade" (S-1) is equivalent with "K-3".
Many employees were worked in the goverment office, they are out of grade system. Some of employees could be hired as graded official after years. Military enlisted persons (for example, private in Army or Seaman in Navy) were also out of grade system.

title, rank and grade

Each goverment official titles were related with grade or range of grade, for example, Admnistrative Vice Minister of central Ministry was related with "C-1 or C-2".
Each military rank was related with specific grade, foe exmaple, Army Colonel and Navy Captain were related with "S-1 (=K-3)". Army Captain and Navy Lieutenant were related with "S-4 (K-6)".

Marshal

"Marshal" was first created in 1898, given by the Emeror, as an honored title, not a rank, common for Army and Navy. Officially he should be called "Marshal and General" (Army) or "Marshal and Admiral" (Navy), but actually treated as the highest rank in Japanese Armed Forces. The title "Marshal" was given for 30 four-star flag officers, 17 from Army, 13 from Navy, 8 Imperial Family Members, 7 posthumously (or nearly posthumously). The recipent has kept in reguler service for life.

16 Feb 1891: Creation of Signal Sergent in petty officer.

16 Aug 1891: Technician was removed from warrant officer and petty officer.

25 Sept 1895: Stoker was renamed as Engineer.

1 Apr 1896: Officer ranks were restructured. Constructor, Ordnance, Hydrography branch were separated.

1 Dec 1897: Recreation of Commander and Sublieutenant. Chief petty officer was established.

31 Jan 1899: Generals of other officers grade extended to K-1.

10 Nov 1903: Creation of Captain in Apothecary and Hydrography officer.

5 Dec 1903: Merger of Blacksmith into Engineer.

28 Jun 1904: Creation of Reserves.

26 Jan 1906: Renaming of Engineer officer.

1 Jun 1910: Abolition of Signal branch.

15 Dec 1915: Creation of Engine constructor branch in officer. Creation of Specialized officer.

20 Jun 1919: Creation of Reserve Commander in Engineer branch.

23 Sept 1919: Renaming of other officer rank.

1 Apr 1920: Specialized officer, warrant officer, petty officer, and enlisted are restrectured.

20 Dec 1924: Merger of Deck officer and Engineer officer above rear admiral.

13 Jul 1926: Creation of Rear admiral in Apothecary branch

1 Jul 1927: Creation of Captain in Reserves

10 Jan 1930: Creation of Air branch

1 Dec 1930: Abolition of Carpenter branch

1 Apr 1934: Creation of Maintenance branch

15 Apr 1937: Creation of Reserve enlisted

1 Apr 1938: Modification in Reserves, including creation of Construction branch

1 Dec 1938: Creation of Construnction branch

19 Aug 1939: Creation of Maintenance branch in Reserves

1 Jun 1941: Dental officer was established. Air branch was renamed to Flight branch.

1 Apr 1942: Justice officer was established.

1 Nov 1942: Full reconstruction of rank.

1 Jul 1943: Renaming of "Reserves" rank. Flight and Maintenace Petty Officer 2nd class were removed from Reserves.

1 Nov 1943: Creation of Acting Sublieutenant (Justice).

15 May 1945: Creation of Special Service officer, warrant officer, petty officer, enlisted in Justice branch.

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