Japanese Military Honorifics

[artisticemotion]

I currently am writing a piece that's set in the Japanese after world, so the time period of the honorifics isn't as important. However, the characters all take place in a military setting, so I was wondering what the honorifics would be for the various ranks. The only anime/manga that had military ranks being used that I've seen or read was Bleach

Comments

[ansela_jonla]

As far as I know the Captain, Lieutenant and Seats system used in Bleach was made up for that series, so if you're wanting actual military ranks then that might not be the best place to look. If you are, then the ranks in Bleach go (Soutaichou (Head Captain), Taichou (Captain, who is first seat of the Division), Fukutaichou (Assistant Captain/Lieutenant, 2nd Seat of the Division), sanseki, yonseki, goseki, rokuseki, nanaseki, hachiseki, kyuuseki, jyuuseki (3rd to 10th seat). My spelling may be off on those, so don't use me as the only answer.

The IJ entries on Common Ranks may help you if you're looking for real rank names.

[hotarunoseika]

Try "Japanese military rank" or "Japanese military titles"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_ranks_and_insignia_of_the_Japan_Self-Defense_Forces
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_ranks_of_the_Japanese_Empire_during_World_War_II
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_ranks_of_the_Japanese_Empire_during_World_War_II

My other suggest is to just not use the Japanese titles since they will not be meaningful in an English language piece for an English reading audience.