Japan set to revive WWII military titles in controversial shift
While some argue the change aligns Japan with global norms, others say better pay – not historical titles – is what soldiers really need
The LDP has reportedly agreed to the change on the grounds that it will align with “international standards”, paving the way for legal revisions in the months ahead. If enacted, Japan’s Self-Defence Forces (SDF) would reintroduce the ranks last used by the imperial Japanese military in the 1930s and 1940s.
While Japan’s military uses English-language ranks in international settings, the SDF has since its foundation adopted Japanese terms distinct from the imperial era, according to Go Ito, a professor of international relations at Tokyo’s Meiji University.
“Introducing these ranks is just a case of doing the same as other countries, including China’s People’s Liberation Army,” he told This Week in Asia.