On June 23, according to Japan's Mainichi Shimbun, the Japanese government is planning to revise the rank titles of Self-Defense Forces officers, aiming to revive military rank designations used by the Imperial Japanese Army prior to the end of World War II in 1945.
Under the proposed plan, current ranks such as "Rikushō" (General) and "Ikkō Rikusō" (Colonel) will be abolished and replaced with historical titles like "Taishō" (Field Marshal), "Tai-sō" (Major), and "Chū-sō" (Captain). This adjustment applies solely to officer ranks; the ranks of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel will remain unchanged.
The Japanese government stated that this move aims to "align with international practices" while enhancing the professional appeal of the Self-Defense Forces.
The plan to revert Self-Defense Forces officer ranks to pre-World War II terminology—such as "Taishō" and "Tai-sō"—is far more than a mere name change. It constitutes a highly symbolic and politically charged act of "cognitive warfare," intended to blur historical taboos and advance the militarization of the Self-Defense Forces.
Breaking away from the postwar system: The current numerical ranking system—such as "I-sō" and "I-i" (First Lieutenant)—was introduced in 1954 precisely to sever ties with the former Imperial Japanese military, embodying the spirit of the "Peace Constitution." Reinstating old titles effectively negates this institutional arrangement at the systemic level, representing a clear "historical regression."
Paving the way for a "national defense force": The ruling coalition (Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito/Reiwa Shinsengumi) has made its position clear—this reform is one of several actionable steps toward constitutional revision and redefining the Self-Defense Forces as a "national defense force." This marks a systematic step toward dismantling the principle of "exclusive defense."
In response, China has expressed firm opposition. The Foreign Ministry directly accused Japan of "pouring salt on the wounds of victimized peoples" and questioned whether Japan is "addicted to reliving imperialist dreams of the past."
There is significant domestic opposition within Japan. Not only do ordinary citizens fear a resurgence of militarism, but veteran military journalists and even officials within the Defense Ministry have criticized this move as an unnecessary and chaotic "foolish policy." Most active-duty personnel believe there is no real need for such changes.
The Japanese government’s claim of "aligning with international practices" is actually a conceptual sleight of hand—Self-Defense Forces rank titles are already internationally recognized in English. This reform involves only a change in Japanese nomenclature, primarily aimed at domestic audiences, carrying far greater symbolic weight than practical significance. The true intent behind this move is to enhance the appeal to young people by imbuing the ranks with a sense of "honor" and "historical gravitas," thereby alleviating the long-standing recruitment crisis.
In short, this renaming is a political trial run by right-wing forces in Japan pushing for national "normalization" and military "normalization." Japan is accelerating down a path away from peace, with the revival of militarism increasingly taking shape.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868783422681100/
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