List of Japanese court ranks, positions and hereditary titles
The court ranks of Japan, also known in Japanese as ikai, are indications of an individual's court rank in Japan based on the system of the state. Ikai as a system was the indication of the rank of bureaucrats and officials in countries that inherited.
Currently, the Japanese court ranks and titles are among the types of honours conferred to those who have held government posts for a long time and to those who have made distinguished achievements. In recent times, most appointments, if not all, are offered posthumously. A notable recipient of such a court rank is the late former prime minister Shinzo Abe, who received Junior First Rank on 8 July 2022.
Court ranks
The national system for ranking politicians and officials who served the Japanese dynasty began in 603 when Empress Suiko enacted the Twelve Level Cap and Rank System. Each rank was identified by the color of a crown the person with the rank wore. There were twelve ranks: Greater Virtue, Lesser Virtue, Greater Benevolence, Lesser Benevolence, Greater Propriety, Lesser Propriety, Greater Sincerity, Lesser Sincerity, Greater Justice, Lesser Justice, Greater Knowledge, and Lesser Knowledge, from top to bottom.The ranking system underwent several amendments and was developed by the Taiho Code enacted in 701. Under this system, ranks were established for the Imperial family members and vassals like the following:
Ranks for Imperial family members
An Emperor was not ranked.Princes, princesses, and other Imperial family members were ranked depending on the extent of their contribution to the nation or other factors as follows:
| English translation | Japanese text | Romanized Japanese | Notes |
| First Rank | 一品 | ip-pon | |
| Second Rank | 二品 | ni-hon | |
| Third Rank | 三品 | san-bon | |
| Fourth Rank | 四品 | shi-hon |
Ranks for subjects
Under the Taiho Code, politicians and officials other than Imperial family members were graded according to the following ranking system.First to Third Ranks
Each of the First to Third Ranks is divided into Senior and Junior. The Senior First Rank is the highest in the rank system. It is conferred mainly on a very limited number of persons recognized by the Imperial Court as most loyal to the nation during that era.The Junior First Rank is the second highest rank, conferred in many cases on the highest ministers, premier feudal lords, and their wives.
Nobles with the Third Rank or upper were called kugyō.
Successive Tokugawa shoguns held the highest or near-highest court ranks, higher than most court nobles. They were made of court rank upon assuming office, then, and the highest rank of was conferred upon them upon their death. The Tokugawa shogunate established that the court ranks granted to daimyo by the imperial court were based on the recommendation of the Tokugawa shogunate, and the court ranks were used to control the daimyo.
Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi were and respectively, but both were elevated to in the Taisho era, about 300 years after their deaths.
| English translation | Japanese text | Romanized Japanese | Selected recipients |
| Senior First Rank | 正一位 | shō ichi-i | Fujiwara no Fuhito, Sugawara no Michizane, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Lady Saigō, Tokugawa Hidetada, Tokugawa Iemitsu |
| Junior First Rank | 従一位 | ju ichi-i | Isonokami no Maro, Taira no Kiyomori, Ashikaga Takauji, Ōmandokoro, Nene, Maeda Toshiie, Oeyo, , , Iso no Miya Tomoko, Shimazu no Shigehime |
| Senior Second Rank | 正二位 | shō ni-i | Minamoto no Yoritomo, Toyotomi Hideyori, Konoe Tadahiro |
| Junior Second Rank | 従二位 | ju ni-i | Taira no Tokiko, Hōjō Masako, Toyotomi Hidenaga, Tokugawa Muneharu, Lady Kasuga |
| Senior Third Rank | 正三位 | shō san-mi | Fujiwara no Matate, Takano no Niigasa, Kitabatake Tomonori |
| Junior Third Rank | 従三位 | ju san-mi | Asa no Miya Akiko, Tenshō-in |
Fourth Rank
The Fourth Rank is divided into Senior and Junior, and each is subdivided into Upper and Lower Grades. The Senior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade is the highest Fourth Rank and the Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade the lowest.| English translation | Japanese text | Romanized Japanese | Notes |
| Senior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade | 正四位上 | shō shi-i no jō | |
| Senior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade | 正四位下 | shō shi-i no ge | Matsunaga Hisahide |
| Junior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade | 従四位上 | ju shi-i no jō | |
| Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade | 従四位下 | ju shi-i no ge | Taira no Tadamori |
Fifth Rank
The Fifth Rank is divided into Senior and Junior, and each is subdivided into Upper and Lower Grades. The Senior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade is the highest Fifth Rank and the Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade the lowest.| English translation | Japanese text | Romanized Japanese | Notes |
| Senior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade | 正五位上 | shō go-i no jō | |
| Senior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade | 正五位下 | shō go-i no ge | Kusunoki Masashige |
| Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade | 従五位上 | ju go-i no jō | Sanada Nobuyuki, Yamakawa Futaba, Sakamoto Tenzan |
| Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade | 従五位下 | ju go-i no ge | Hojo Ujinao, Hayashi Narinaga |
Sixth Rank
The Sixth Rank is divided into Senior and Junior, and each is subdivided into Upper and Lower Grades. The Senior Sixth Rank, Upper Grade is the highest Sixth Rank and the Junior Sixth Rank, Lower Grade the lowest.| English translation | Japanese text | Romanized Japanese | Notes |
| Senior Sixth Rank, Upper Grade | 正六位上 | shō roku-i no jō | |
| Senior Sixth Rank, Lower Grade | 正六位下 | shō roku-i no ge | |
| Junior Sixth Rank, Upper Grade | 従六位上 | ju roku-i no jō | |
| Junior Sixth Rank, Lower Grade | 従六位下 | ju roku-i no ge |
Seventh Rank
The Seventh Rank is divided into Senior and Junior, and each is subdivided into Upper and Lower Grades. The Senior Seventh Rank, Upper Grade is the highest Seventh Rank and the Junior Seventh Rank, Lower Grade the lowest.| English translation | Japanese text | Romanized Japanese | Notes |
| Senior Seventh Rank, Upper Grade | 正七位上 | shō shichi-i no jō | |
| Senior Seventh Rank, Lower Grade | 正七位下 | shō shichi-i no ge | |
| Junior Seventh Rank, Upper Grade | 従七位上 | ju shichi-i no jō | |
| Junior Seventh Rank, Lower Grade | 従七位下 | ju shichi-i no ge |
Eighth Rank
The Eighth Rank is divided into Senior and Junior, subdivided into Upper and Lower Grades. The Senior Eighth Rank, Upper Grade, is the highest, and the Junior Eighth Rank, Lower Grade, is the lowest.| English translation | Japanese text | Romanized Japanese | Notes |
| Senior Eighth Rank, Upper Grade | 正八位上 | shō hachi-i no jō | |
| Senior Eighth Rank, Lower Grade | 正八位下 | shō hachi-i no ge | |
| Junior Eighth Rank, Upper Grade | 従八位上 | ju hachi-i no jō | |
| Junior Eighth Rank, Lower Grade | 従八位下 | ju hachi-i no ge |
Initial Rank
The Initial Rank is divided into Greater and Lesser, and each is subdivided into Upper and Lower Grades. The Greater Initial Rank, Upper Grade is the highest Initial Rank, and the Lesser Initial Rank, Lower Grade the lowest.| English translation | Japanese text | Romanized Japanese | Notes |
| Greater Initial Rank, Upper Grade | 大初位上 | dai sho-i no jō | |
| Greater Initial Rank, Lower Grade | 大初位下 | dai sho-i no ge | |
| Lesser Initial Rank, Upper Grade | 少初位上 | shō sho-i no jō | |
| Lesser Initial Rank, Lower Grade | 少初位下 | shō sho-i no ge |
Ranking system after the Meiji Restoration
The 1887 Ordinance on Ordination reorganized the ranking system. It abolished the Initial Ranks and the Grades of Upper and Lower of Fourth and lower Ranks. The relationships between ikai and court positions were also abolished. There were then a total of 16 ranks, ranging from the Senior First Rank to the Junior Eighth Rank, as shown below:Sanjo Sanetomi was the last living person who received the Senior First Rank in 1891, and all subsequent recipients were posthumously received. No persons have been awarded this rank since 1917 when Oda Nobunaga was posthumously awarded.
The 1925 Decree on Ranks restricted ordination exclusively to the purpose of conferring honors.
Since the current Constitution came into effect in 1947, the presentation of ranks has been limited to those who have already died, with the idea of abolishing the privileges associated with conferring honors, and ranks have been presented posthumously.
Today, the Junior First Rank is the highest available rank, which is posthumously conferred primarily on persons deemed being served most to the nation out of former prime ministers.
The Senior Second Rank is conferred on many former prime ministers, and the Junior Second Rank on top-class politicians, such as former speakers of the National Diet and former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
The Senior Third Rank is posthumously conferred mainly on civilians who are recognized as having done the most for the nation's development, such as founders of large companies and the novelists and artists who represented Japan. The Junior Third Rank is in many cases conferred on artists who created Japan's famous masterpieces.
The Junior First Rank is bestowed directly by the incumbent Emperor. The Second through Fourth Ranks are awarded by Imperial decree.
The awarding of the Fifth Ranks or lower is decided by a hearing from the Cabinet and a decision by the Emperor to the hearing.
Court positions
In the era when the Ritsuryo system was in place, the official position in the court and ikai of bureaucrats were closely related. For example, becoming the Chancellor of the Realm, the highest position in the administration, required the Senior or Junior First Rank. To become the Minister of the Left, Right, or Center, he had to be in either the Senior Second Rank or the Junior Second Rank. A Major Counselor needed the Senior Third Rank, and a Middle Counselor needed the Junior Third Rank. Associate Counselors required the Senior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade.- Chancellor of the Realm—the highest position in the Council of State. This position was used only when it was necessary to place someone in a position above the Minister of the Left.
- Minister of the Left—the highest permanent position in the Council of State.
- Minister of the Right—the second highest position next to the Minister of the Left.
- Minister of the Center—the third highest position next to the Minister of the Right.
- dainagon—the fourth highest position in the Council of State. The maximum number of this position was originally four and was reduced to two in 705.
- Provisional Senior Counselor—when all Senior Counselors were occupied, and a new person was appointed to the Senior Counselor, he was placed in this position.
- Middle Counselor—a newly created position to assist Senior Counselors. The maximum number of this position was three.
- Associate Counselor—personnel to participate in political discussions, not Senior or Middle Counselors.
- Controller of the Left—controls the Ministers of the Center, Civil Service, Ceremonies, and Popular Affairs.
- Controller of the Right—controls the Ministers of War, Justice, the Treasury, and the Imperial Household.
- Junior Counselor—the top working-level position in the Council of State. The maximum number of this position was three.
- Minister of the Center—the highest position in the Ministry of the Center.
- Minister of Civil Service—the highest position in the Ministry of Civil Service.
- Minister of Ceremonies—the highest position in the Ministry of Ceremonies.
- Minister of Popular Affairs —the highest position in the Ministry of Popular Affairs.
- Minister of War—the highest position in the Ministry of War.
- Minister of Justice—the highest position in the Ministry of Justice.
- Minister of the Treasury—the highest position in the Ministry of the Treasury.
- Minister of the Imperial Household—the highest position in the Ministry of the Imperial Household.
''Shiki'' (職)
- Chief Surveyor of Palace Apartments—the first-class officer requiring the Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade.
- Palace Assistant—the second-class officer requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade.
- Chief Curator of the Palace—the first-class officer of the Bureau of Curation of the Palace, requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade.
- First Assistant Curator of the Palace—the second-class officer of the Bureau of Curation of the Palace, requiring the Junior Sixth Rank, Upper Grade.
- Second Assistant Curator of the Palace—the third-class officer of the Bureau of Curation of the Palace, requiring the Junior Seventh Rank, Upper Grade.
- Alternate Curator of the Palace—the fourth-class officer of the Bureau of Curation of the Palace, requiring the Junior Eighth Rank, Lower Grade or the Greater Initial Rank, Upper Grade.
- Chief Court Architect—the first-class officer of the Bureau of Court Architect, requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade.
- Chief Court Musician—the first-class officer of the Bureau of Court Musician, requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade.
- Chief Diplomat—the first-class officer of the Bureau of Diplomacy, requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade.
- Director of the Bureau of Computation—the first-class officer of the Bureau of Computation, requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade.
- Assistant Director of the Bureau of Computation—the second-class officer of the Bureau of Computation, requiring the Senior Sixth Rank, Lower Grade.
- Director of the Tax Bureau—the first-class officer of the Tax Bureau, requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade.
- Assistant Director of the Tax Bureau—the second-class officer of the Tax Bureau, requiring the Senior Sixth Rank, Lower Grade.
- Captain of the Left Division of the Bureau of Horses—the first-class officer of the Left Division of the Bureau of Horses, requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade.
- Captain of the Right Division of the Bureau of Horses—the first-class officer of the Right Division of the Bureau of Horses, requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade.
- Chief Court Astrologer—the first-class officer of the Bureau of Court Astrology, requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade.
- Chief Court Calendar-maker—a person recognized by the state as a learned person in charge of creating the state calendar. He needed the Junior Seventh Rank, Upper Grade.
- Chief Court Astronomer—a person recognized by the state as a learned person in charge of astronomy. He required the Senior Seventh Rank, Lower Grade.
- Chief Court Timekeeper—a person recognized by the state as a learned person in charge of national timekeeping. He required the Junior Seventh Rank, Lower Grade.
- Imperial Tutor or Reader—a scholar who served at the Emperor's side and taught learning.
- Major Captain of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards
- Major Captain of the Right Division of Inner Palace Guards
- Middle Captain of the Right Division of Inner Palace Guards
- Provisional Middle Captain of the Right Division of Inner Palace Guards
- Minor Captain of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards
- Provisional Minor Captain of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards
- Lieutenant of the Right Division of Inner Palace Guards
- Lieutenant of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards
- Head of Left Military Guards
- Head of Right Military Guards
- Assistant Head of Left Military Guards
- Provisional Assistant Master of the Left Military Guard
- Assistant Head of Right Military Guards
- Provisional Assistant Master of the Right Military Guard
- Head Chamberlain
- Chamberlain
- Assistant Chamberlain
- Governor
- Provisional Governor
Others
- Empress Dowager
Hereditary titles
A hereditary title was conferred by an Emperor on an Imperial family member, a noble, or a clan under the kabane system to signify his political and social status. This title was inherited from generation to generation in the family until the hereditary title system was discontinued in 1871 by law.- Mahito —the highest noble title of the court personnel. Mahito was mainly conferred to Imperial families.
- Ason—the second highest noble title next to Mahito. Ason was practically the highest title for non-imperial-household clans.
- Sukune—the third highest noble title. The clans with Sukune represented military and administrative officers.
- Imiki—the fourth highest noble title. It was mainly conferred to Hata and Yamato-no-Aya clans.
- Michinoshi—the fifth highest noble title. There is no record that this title was conferred.
- Omi —the sixth highest noble title. It was recorded to be conferred mainly on Soga, Kose, Ki, Katsuragi, and Hozumi clans.
- Muraji—the seventh highest noble title. It was conferred on Mononobe, Nakatomi, Yuge, Otomo and Haji clans.
- Inagi —the eighth highest noble title. There was no precedent for this title being conferred.
- Tomo no Miyatsuko—a title of gōzoku who were subordinate to nobles with Muraji.
- Momoamariyaso no Tomo—a lower title than Tomo no Miyatsuko.
- Kuni no Miyatsuko—a title for officers ruling provinces.
- Agatanushi—a title of rulers of a smaller area than a province.