List of Japanese court ranks, positions and hereditary titles

The court ranks of Japan, also known in Japanese as ikai (位階), are indications of an individual's court rank in Japan based on the system of the state. Ikai as a system was originally used in the Ritsuryo system, which was the political administration system used in ancient China, and the indication of the rank of bureaucrats and officials in countries that inherited (class system).

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 recent recipient of such a court rank is the late former prime minister Shinzo Abe on 8 July 2022, who received Junior First Rank (従一位, ju ichi-i).

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 (大徳), Lesser Virtue (小徳), Greater Benevolence (大仁), Lesser Benevolence (小仁), Greater Propriety (大礼), Lesser Propriety (小礼), Greater Sincerity (大信), Lesser Sincerity (小信), Greater Justice (大義), Lesser Justice (小義), Greater Knowledge (大智), and Lesser Knowledge (小智), 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:

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 (正) and Junior (従). The Senior First Rank (正一位) 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 (従一位) 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 Senior Second Rank (正二位) of court rank upon assuming office, then Junior First Rank (従一位), and the highest rank of Senior First Rank (正一位) 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 Senior Second Rank (正二位) and Junior First Rank (従一位) respectively, but both were elevated to Senior First Rank (正一位) in the Taisho era, about 300 years after their deaths.

Fourth Rank
The Fourth Rank is divided into Senior and Junior, and each is subdivided into Upper (上) and Lower (下) Grades. The Senior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade (正四位上) is the highest Fourth Rank and the Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade (従四位下) the lowest.

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 (正五位上) is the highest Fifth Rank and the Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) the lowest.

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 (正六位上) is the highest Sixth Rank and the Junior Sixth Rank, Lower Grade (従六位下) the lowest.

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 (正七位上) is the highest Seventh Rank and the Junior Seventh Rank, Lower Grade (従七位下) the lowest.

Eighth Rank
The Eighth Rank is divided into Senior and Junior, subdivided into Upper and Lower Grades. The Senior Eighth Rank, Upper Grade (正八位上), is the highest, and the Junior Eighth Rank, Lower Grade (従八位下), is the lowest.

Initial Rank
The Initial Rank (初位) is divided into Greater (大) and Lesser (少), and each is subdivided into Upper and Lower Grades. The Greater Initial Rank, Upper Grade (大初位上) is the highest Initial Rank, and the Lesser Initial Rank, Lower Grade (少初位下) the lowest.

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 (正一位) to the Junior Eighth Rank (従八位), as shown below:

Sanjo Sanetomi was the last living person who received the Senior First Rank (正一位) 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 (位階令) 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 (従一位) 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 (正二位) is conferred on many former prime ministers, and the Junior Second Rank (従二位) on top-class politicians, such as former speakers of the National Diet and former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Senior Third Rank (正三位) 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 (従三位) 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 (太政大臣), the highest position in the administration, required the Senior or Junior First Rank (正一位、従一位). To become the Minister of the Left, Right, or Center (左大臣、右大臣、内大臣), he had to be in either the Senior Second Rank (正二位) or the Junior Second Rank (従二位). A Major Counselor (大納言) needed the Senior Third Rank (正三位), and a Middle Counselor (中納言) needed the Junior Third Rank (従三位). Associate Counselors (参議) required the Senior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade (正四位下).

Council of State (太政官)
Controllers needed the Junior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade. Junior Counselors required the Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade.
 * Chancellor of the Realm (太政大臣)—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 (左大臣)—the highest permanent position in the Council of State.
 * Minister of the Right (右大臣)—the second highest position next to the Minister of the Left.
 * Minister of the Center (内大臣)—the third highest position next to the Minister of the Right.
 * Senior Counselor (大納言)—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 (権大納言)—when all Senior Counselors were occupied, and a new person was appointed to the Senior Counselor, he was placed in this position.
 * Middle Counselor (中納言)—a newly created position to assist Senior Counselors. The maximum number of this position was three.
 * Associate Counselor (参議)—personnel to participate in political discussions, not Senior or Middle Counselors.
 * Controller of the Left (左大弁)—controls the Ministers of the Center, Civil Service, Ceremonies, and Popular Affairs.
 * Controller of the Right (右大弁)—controls the Ministers of War, Justice, the Treasury, and the Imperial Household.
 * Junior Counselor (少納言)—the top working-level position in the Council of State. The maximum number of this position was three.

Eight Ministries (八省)

 * Minister of the Center (中務卿)—the highest position in the Ministry of the Center (中務省).
 * Minister of Civil Service (治部卿)—the highest position in the Ministry of Civil Service (治部省).
 * Minister of Ceremonies (式部卿)—the highest position in the Ministry of Ceremonies (式部省).
 * Minister of Popular Affairs (民部卿)—the highest position in the Ministry of Popular Affairs (民部省).
 * Minister of War (兵部卿)—the highest position in the Ministry of War (兵部省).
 * Minister of Justice (刑部卿)—the highest position in the Ministry of Justice (刑部省).
 * Minister of the Treasury (大蔵卿)—the highest position in the Ministry of the Treasury (大蔵省).
 * Minister of the Imperial Household (宮内卿)—the highest position in the Ministry of the Imperial Household (宮内省).

The Minister of the Center needed the Senior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade. Other ministers required the Senior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade.

Shiki (職)

 * Chief Surveyor of Palace Apartments (中宮大夫)—the first-class officer requiring the Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade.
 * Palace Assistant (中宮亮)—the second-class officer requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade.

Bureau (寮)

 * Chief Curator of the Palace (内蔵頭)—the first-class officer of the Bureau of Curation of the Palace (内蔵寮), requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade.
 * First Assistant Curator of the Palace (内蔵助)—the second-class officer of the Bureau of Curation of the Palace (内蔵寮), requiring the Junior Sixth Rank, Upper Grade.
 * Second Assistant Curator of the Palace (内蔵允)—the third-class officer of the Bureau of Curation of the Palace (内蔵寮), requiring the Junior Seventh Rank, Upper Grade.
 * Alternate Curator of the Palace (内蔵属)—the fourth-class officer of the Bureau of Curation of the Palace (内蔵寮), requiring the Junior Eighth Rank, Lower Grade or the Greater Initial Rank, Upper Grade.
 * Chief Court Architect (内匠頭)—the first-class officer of the Bureau of Court Architect (内匠寮), requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade.
 * Chief Court Musician (雅楽頭)—the first-class officer of the Bureau of Court Musician (雅楽寮), requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade.
 * Chief Diplomat (玄蕃頭)—the first-class officer of the Bureau of Diplomacy (玄蕃寮), requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade.
 * Director of the Bureau of Computation (主計頭)—the first-class officer of the Bureau of Computation (主計寮), requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade.
 * Assistant Director of the Bureau of Computation (主計助)—the second-class officer of the Bureau of Computation (主計寮), requiring the Senior Sixth Rank, Lower Grade.
 * Director of the Tax Bureau (主税頭)—the first-class officer of the Tax Bureau (主税寮), requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade.
 * Assistant Director of the Tax Bureau (主税助)—the second-class officer of the Tax Bureau (主税寮), requiring the Senior Sixth Rank, Lower Grade.
 * Captain of the Left Division of the Bureau of Horses (左馬頭)—the first-class officer of the Left Division of the Bureau of Horses (左馬寮), requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade.
 * Captain of the Right Division of the Bureau of Horses (右馬頭)—the first-class officer of the Right Division of the Bureau of Horses (右馬寮), requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade.
 * Chief Court Astrologer (陰陽頭)—the first-class officer of the Bureau of Court Astrology (陰陽寮), requiring the Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade.
 * Chief Court Calendar-maker (暦博士)—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 (天文博士)—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 (漏刻博士)—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 (侍読)—a scholar who served at the Emperor's side and taught learning.

Division of Inner Palace Guards (近衛府)

 * Major Captain of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards (左近衛大将)
 * Major Captain of the Right Division of Inner Palace Guards (右近衛大将)
 * Middle Captain of the Right Division of Inner Palace Guards (右近衛中将)
 * Provisional Middle Captain of the Right Division of Inner Palace Guards (右近衛権中将)
 * Minor Captain of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards (左近衛少将)
 * Provisional Minor Captain of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards (左近衛権少将)
 * Lieutenant of the Right Division of Inner Palace Guards (右近衛将監)
 * Lieutenant of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards (左近衛将監)

Division of Military Guards (兵衛府)

 * Head of Left Military Guards (左兵衛督)
 * Head of Right Military Guards (右兵衛督)
 * Assistant Head of Left Military Guards (左兵衛佐)
 * Provisional Assistant Master of the Left Military Guard (左兵衛権佐)
 * Assistant Head of Right Military Guards (右兵衛佐)
 * Provisional Assistant Master of the Right Military Guard (右兵衛権佐)

Chamberlain Office (蔵人所)

 * Head Chamberlain (蔵人頭)
 * Chamberlain (蔵人)
 * Assistant Chamberlain (次侍従)

Provincial Governor (地方国司)

 * Governor (守)
 * Provisional Governor (権守)

Others

 * Empress Dowager (皇太后)

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 (真人)—the highest noble title of the court personnel. Mahito was mainly conferred to Imperial families.
 * Ason (朝臣)—the second highest noble title next to Mahito. Ason was practically the highest title for non-imperial-household clans.
 * Sukune (宿禰)—the third highest noble title. The clans with Sukune represented military and administrative officers.
 * Imiki (忌寸)—the fourth highest noble title. It was mainly conferred to Hata and Yamato-no-Aya clans.
 * Michinoshi (道師)—the fifth highest noble title. There is no record that this title was conferred.
 * Omi (臣)—the sixth highest noble title. It was recorded to be conferred mainly on Soga, Kose, Ki, Katsuragi, and Hozumi clans.
 * Muraji (連)—the seventh highest noble title. It was conferred on Mononobe, Nakatomi, Yuge, Otomo and Haji clans.
 * Inagi (稲置)—the eighth highest noble title. There was no precedent for this title being conferred.
 * Tomo no Miyatsuko (伴造)—a title of gōzoku who were subordinate to nobles with Muraji.
 * Momoamariyaso no Tomo (百八十部)—a lower title than Tomo no Miyatsuko.
 * Kuni no Miyatsuko (国造)—a title for officers ruling provinces.
 * Agatanushi (県主)—a title of rulers of a smaller area than a province.