On Bosho Jyuban

Research Note: NLF Ground Organization

Fratricide Incidents in the IJA - an example

Army Map Symbology

IJA Uniform Wearing Guide

Preface

This is an excerpt of translation of the wearing guide from the 1917 edition of the “Uniform maintenance and utilization manual”. While this is from 1917, the general rules did not change drastically except the addition of the different uniforms. The book itself is a handy reference for maintenance and sewing guidelines, which hopefully I will get to someday in the future to translate it. Note that the feet and inches in this translation refers to the Japanese feet and inch, Shaku(feet), and Sun(inch). Each Japanese feet is 10 inch, rough 303.303mm.

Underwear Top

1. The unbuttoned sleeves edge should not be long enough to reach the back of your hands
2. If it is too long, close up about 2,3 inches up from the sleeve line.
3. If the sleeve mouth is too big, you may attach additional buttons on the sleeve

Underwear Bottom

1. Underwear trousers shall be worn pulled completely to the highest point, cover the buttocks completely. The right tie is to be pulled through the left hole on the underwear trousers, circle once around to the front, and tied on the right front.
2. The testicles shall be on the left side.
3. The trousers ankle ties shall be tied above the feet and on the outside of the trousers.
4. The length of the trousers shall be just right above the bottom fibula bone.

Socks

1. Before wearing the socks, you should fold them about half way down in order to completely fit your foot into the socks. Once on, pulled the rest of the half upwards.
2. After washing the socks you should switch the foot or the side of the socks.
3. In order to prevent the socks from slipping out of your shoes, you may elect to wear the socks underneath your trousers,

Trousers

1. The testicles shall be on the left side.
2. Tie the trousers ties in a way without having them sag to either side from movement.
3. The trouser length shall be just right above the fibula bottom bone.
4. Be careful in not letting the buttock sewing lines to sag beyond where it is at
5. For riding trousers, tie the leg ties above the fibula bone.

Top and collar liner

1. When putting on the top, raise your arms high and wiggle to let the jacket fall on you.
2. After putting the top on, adjust and fix any part of your underwear that slipped
3. For the collar liner, fold it as the below picture. each fold being about 1.3 to 1.4 inch (note: 3.93 cm)
4. The collar liner shall be about 1 tenth inch (3.03 mm) above the collar, and you may clip it in order to prevent it from slipping
5. Button up the uniform starting from the top hook, and work your way down.
6. The length of the uniform should stick out about 6.5 inches (19.69 cm) below your hip bone. The sleeve length shall be just at the wrist bones.
7. The underwear should not slip beyond the uniform, adjust your underwear accordingly
8. The winter uniform should be the size where you are still able to fit winter underwear underneath it.
9. The sleeve insignia shall be sew with the “Matsuri” style along the edge of the insignia backing.
   
10. The shoulder boards location shall be split from the highest point of the about 3/4 down from the point, and 1/4 up from the point.


1. The collar tabs shall be tacked on at several points along the edge
2. The sleeve insignia is about 4 inch (12.03 cm) from the shoulder seam, and shoulder boards center about 5 inches (15.01 cm) from the top seam
3. The collar tabs shall be 1 tenth inch (3.03 mm) from the edge, center of the collar insignia shall be about 6 tenth inch ( 1.80 cm) from the edge of the collar tag. If it is a two part insignia, it shall be 5 tenth inch (1.50 cm) from the edge, and 4 tenth inch (1.20 cm) between the center of the insignia

Cap

1. The visor shall, along with the cap star, in a line with your nose. It shall be sitting upright and even, not sliding to either side.
2. The bottom part of the visor shall sit about 1 inch (3.03 cm) above the root of the ears, which is about 2 fingers width.

Boots

1. The boots shall be worn after the ties are completely loosened up, and the tongue opened up. Do not step the ankle part of boots into the boots. The tongue shall be loose enough to fit your index finger into the sides.
2. The laces shall be tied 2, 3 times around the mouth of the foot, in order to not interfere with movement.
3. The shoe sizes shall be large enough to fit the winter socks and not feel too tight on your feet.
4. Before wearing the boots, dump all the dusts and stones from the insides, and make sure the socks are tight without folds.

Long boots

1. Using both of your hands and pull the boots up with the pull ties on the inside of the boots
2. After the boots are on securely, fold the pull ties back into the boots
3. When putting on spurs, make sure to release the buckle and hook on the spurs from the rear of the boots. And secure it by using the secondary buckles through the bottom of the boots.

Leg Rolls (Puttees)

1. Hold down the trousers at the knees, and using the sew lines underneath the first lace hole, start the leg roll with the bottom covering the first lace hole, and roll the puttees from the interior side to the exterior side, the side that faces the outside. with the starting point around the rear of your boots
2. The leg rolls, should be very tight for the first two rolls as you work from the insides to the outsides, with the 3rd and 4th roll doing a double fold as you work your way up, it should end about underneath the knees. The ties shall be tied roughly in line with the trouser seams. Adjust the length of the tie by folding the tie over each other.
3. It’s easier to put it on if you have your trousers hang over your boots.
4. Both sides shall end up at the same height.
5. The shoe laces should be covered up by the leg rolls, and not shown
6. The leg rolls ties shall not have any extra length hanging about, and folded into the ties neatly.
7. The leg rolls end ties should be in line with the outside seams of your trousers,
   

Coat

1. Unbutton the rear buttons, and put on the coat as you would the uniform
2. Hook on the collars first, then the inner buttons, then the outer buttons, and lastly the mask buttons
3. If required, you may hook the edge buttonholes on the bottom of the coat to the belt hooks, or close up the buttons from the back.
4. The length shall be roughly 2 inches (6.06 cm) below the knees, sleeve roughly 1.5 inches (4.54 cm) longer than the wrists.
5. Chest should be loose enough to fit the uniform along with the winter underwear.

Bread Bag

1. Hook the bag to the belt, and make sure all the straps are buckles, hang from the left shoulder to the right side. (Note: The bag is to be worn with the straps between the second and the third button of the uniform)
2. The right side of the bag should be in line the the center of your back

Canteen

1. Canteens are split between the foot canteen straps and the riding canteen straps. The foot canteen straps are to be worn from the left shoulder to the right side, and the riding canteen straps are to be worn from the right shoulder to the left side. The strap buckle and the canteen buckle shall be facing forward in each case. When wearing the foot canteen straps, the canteen shall sit right on top the bread bag and above the bread bag flap and straps.The canteen straps shall sit right above the bread bag side straps, touching its edges. The canteen mouth shall end up about the edge of the top of the belt. The canteen shall sit upright and not sliding to the side. The curved part of the canteen shall face outwards, and the flat part shall face towards the body.
2. The canteen should be right below the second button.
3. The mouth of canteen should be in line with the bottom of the belt.

Pack

1. Buckle the left shoulder straps, and slowly slide the backpack on with your right hand on the right shoulder straps, unbuckled.
2. Buckle the right shoulder straps in.
3. Using the front hooks, hook them at the section of the belt where it the center of the ammo boxes in front.
4. Be mindful of the folds that are created when wearing the back pack, adjust accordingly, and avoid the straps covering or clipping your shoulder boards.
   

Winter underpants

1. Shall be worn above the regular underwear trouser, fold the outer edges in to create an air pocket.

Winter socks

1. Worn while you are putting on the winter boots. Wear the regular socks underneath these winter socks.

Winter vest

1. Worn either over the uniform or the coat.

Winter Coat

1. Usually worn in place of the regular coat, however, you may need to wear the winter vest underneath the winter coats.

Winter Wool Mask

1. Worn underneath the cap, extra length on the bottom shall be tucked into the collar.

Winter boots

1. Worn in place of the regular boots when required,

Winter gloves

1. Worn in place of the regular gloves

Mosquito cover

1. Hang from the top and tie the ties from behind, be mindful and do not let the cover the the back of your head.

Supplemental information about the type 98 ranks, all the wearing guide information still applies, but due to the switch to the metric system in 1927. The information should now be rounded to the closest millimeter. The ranks are to be 6 mm from the edge, and 12 mm from the bottom, if any insignia is to be used, it is to be 15 mm outwards beyond the ranks. [1]

1. Ministry of Army. “Showa 5 Nen Rikutatsu Dai 8 Go Rikugun Fukusei Narabini Sougu no Seishiki ni Yoru Eribu Kisho no Seishiki Narabi ni Erisho Oyobi Eirbu Kisho no Tsukechaku Yoryou non Ken” 昭和５年陸達第８号陸軍服制並装具の制式に依る襟部徽章の制式並に襟章及襟部徽章の付著要領の件 [Regarding the Showa 5  Armywide Order No. 8 on the Army Uniform and Equipment Regulation and the Collar Rank and Insignia Location]. Tokyo. Raikanshu (Shiman) Dai 4 Bu Showa 15 Nen 來翰綴（支満）第４部昭和１５年 [Incoming Messages (China Manchuria) 4th Volume 1940]. 1940. JACAR Ref.C01007802000.

Imperial Rescript Anaylsis and Explaination - Part 1

The imperial re-script is modernly a very contentious and politically charged topic. And while it is often understood in it's basic tenants, the details are often not. This will also provide details on some of the very archaic Japanese vocabulary that definitely does not exist today.

The format of will consist of original lines, then the vocabulary, and then followed by the translation and ends with notes and contexts.

As to why the rescript is important to understand, all IJA/IJN personnels were expected to be able to memorize the rescript, with officers needing to memorize the whole rescript.

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Original and Pronunciation:
我國の軍隊は世々天皇の統率し給ふ所にそある
Waga Kuni no Guntai wa Yoyo Tennou no Tousotsushi Tamau Tokoro nizo aru

Vocabulary:
1. 世々 - Yoyo
Throughout the ages

2. 統率 - Tousotsu
To lead

3. そある - Zo aru
Be (Literary copula); Similar in usage and meaning to "De aru", but stronger emphasis

Translation:
Our country's military is lead throughout the ages by the emperor.

Notes:
To be said at the very beginning of the rescript is the language that emphasizes the fact that the emperor has been, and will continue to be holding the military power directly. That the military is in it's essence an extension of the emperor direct power, and not the civilian government that the emperor has delegated his responsibilities to. This concept is also echo'd in the Imperial Japan Constitution in article 11, "The Emperor Shall Command the Army and the Navy". Interpretation during the 20s in the article 11 crisis was largely the result of different political opinions on this specific interpretation.

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Original and Pronunciation:
昔神武天皇躬つから大伴物部の兵ともを率ゐ中國のまつろはぬものともを討ち平け給ひ高御座に即かせられて天下しろしめし給ひしより二千五百有餘年を經ぬ此間世の樣の移り換るに隨ひて兵制の沿革も亦屢なりき

Mukashi Jinmu Tennou Mizukara Otomo Mononobe no Tsuwamono tomo wo Hiki, Nakatsukuni no Matsurowanu monotomo wo Uchi Tahirage Tamai, Takamikura ni Tsukasarete Amanoshita Shiroshimeshi tamai shiyori nisen gohyaku yonen wo ehnu, Kono aida yonozama no Utsurikaeru ni Shitagatte Heisei no Enkaku mo Mata Shibashiba Nariki

Vocabulary:
1. 大伴 - Otomo
A name of an ancient clan. It was said that they are the decendents of Ameno-Oshihino-Mikoto. According to ancient mythology, their ancestor Michi-no-Omi-no-Mikoto assisted Jinmu Emperor in his Eastern conquest. During the ancient era they served as the emperor's personal body guards.

2. 物部 - Mononobe
A name of an ancient clan. Much like the Otomo clan, their ancestor (And god) Nigi-Haya-Hinomikoto also assisted in the Eastern conquest. I won't be going into details but it was quite convoluted. Their clan originally was famous for weaponsmithing and carry weapons. Thus became another name for Samurais and Bushi, as Mononofu (Co-opted in the modern day by an idol group)

3. 中國 - Nakatsukuni
While the kanji can be read as China, that is not the case here. In here it means the "country of the center", referring to Japan.

4. まつろはぬ - Matsurowanu
Does not follow; the whole phrase "Matsurowanu tomo" means "The ones who do not follow"

5. 高御座に即かせられて - Takamikura ni Tsukasarete
To ascend to the throne; Takamikura means the emperor's seat.

6. 天下 - Amanoshita
The world; in this case, Japan.

7. しろしめし - Shiroshimeshi
To know ( -su); the polite and archaic form of "Shiru"

8. 二千五百有餘年を經ぬ - Nisen gohyaku yonen wo Ehnu
2500 something year has pass; The year the rescript was written was in Meiji 15, equaling to the Imperial year 2542.

9. 移り換る - Utsuri Kawaru
To advance.

10. 兵制 - Heisei
The organization of the military.

11. 沿革 - Enkaku
To evolve.

Translation:
In the old days, the emperor Jinmu led the Otomo and Mononobe clan and successfully united the Yamato area of Japan. 2500 something year has past after his ascendance to the seat of the emperor, and the organization of our military has continued to evolve.

Notes:
The first sentence was to focus on the fact that the emperor leads his military, while followed by the history. This gives the reader context that the very first emperor lead his military, and is doubling down on that being a tradition. While in the end letting the reader know that while the organization of the military has changed and will always change, the emperor is a constant that will not change. The mentioning of the years that has past also serves as a reminder that this constant has not changed in 2500 years.
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Original and Pronunciation:
古は天皇躬つから軍隊を率ゐ給ふ御制にて時ありては皇后皇太子の代らせ給ふこともありつれと大凡兵權を臣下に委ね給ふことはなかりき中世に至りて文武の制度皆唐國風に傚はせ給ひ六衞府を置き左右馬寮を建て防人なと設けられしかは兵制は整ひたれとも打續ける昇平に狃れて朝廷の政務も漸文弱に流れけれは兵農おのつから二に分れ古の徴兵はいつとなく壯兵の姿に變り遂に武士となり兵馬の權は一向に其武士ともの棟梁たる者に歸し世の亂と共に政治の大權も亦其手に落ち凡七百年の間武家の政治とはなりぬ

Inshi-e wa Tennou Mizukara Guntai wo Hikitamau Onokite ni-te toki arite wa Kougou Koutaishi no kawarase-tamau koto mo aritsuredo, Oyoso Heiken wo Shinka ni Yudane Tamau Koto wa Nakariki, Nakatsuyo ni Itarite Bunbu no Seido Mina Karakuni Buri ni Narawase tamai, Rokue-fu wo Oki Sa-u Meryo wo tate, Sakimori nado Maukerareshikaba, Heisei wa Totonotaredomo Uchi-tsuzukeru shou-hei ni narete Choutei no Seimu mo Youyaku Bunjyaku ni Nagaredereba Heinou onozukara Futatsu ni Wakare, Inishi-e no chouhei wa Itsutonaku Souhei no Sugata ni Kawari, Tsui-ni Bushi to nari, heiba no ken wa hitasura ni sono Bushi-domo no Touryou tarumono ni Kishi, Yo no rmidare to tomoni Seiji no Taiken mo Mata Sonote ni Ochi, Oyoso Shichi Hyakunen no Aida, Buka no Seiji to wa Narinu

Vocabulary:
1. 御制 - Onokite
Imperial Rule

2. 皇后皇太子の代らせ給ふ - Kougou Koutaishi no Kawarase Tamau
The Empress or the Prince leading in the emperor's stead; "Se" here is used as a polite form modifier. Several historical examples are referenced here, such as Empress Jinku's conquest of Korea.

3. ありつれと - Aritsuredo
While there was such example; Archaic form of "Attakeredo"

4. 大凡 - Oyoso
All

5. 兵權 - Heiken
Military Power

6. 委ね - Yudane
To delegate

7. 中世 - Nakatsuyo
The era starting from the Taika reform to the end of the Heian era.

8. 文武の制度 - Bunbu no Seido
The organization of the government, a combination of "Bun", literary, and "Bu", the military.

9. 唐國風 - Karakuni Buri
The style of the Tang dynasty; The style of china. The tang dynasty was so ubiquitous to the chinese culture that it was used colloquially the same as china, or shina.

10. 傚はせ給ひ - Narawase Tamai
To copy; To imitate. "se" and "tamai" are both polite form modifiers here, making this a double "Keigo"

11. 六衞府 - Roku-e Fu
The 6 guard offices. Originally a Chinese concept. Consists of the left imperial guard, the right imperial guard, the left soldier guard, the right soldier guard, the left gate guard, the right gate guard. The imperial guards are the emperor's personal body guards. the soldier guards were tasked with the cart security and palace guards, while the gate guards were tasked with the gates of the palace

12. 左右馬寮 - Sa-u Meryo
The left and right stable officials. An office that was tasked with the handling of all stable businesses in the palace.

13. 防人 - Sakimori
Soldiers that were selected to be on duty in far away lands such has Tsushima. Essentially an ancient form of border guards. The very first "drafted" soldiers, you usually need to serve three years in that capacity if selected. (Note: quite a few modern right wing groups have co-opted the term)

14. 昇平に狃れ - Shouhei ni Nare
Fallen peaceful and became complacent.

15. 政務 - Seimu
Political matters.

16. 文弱 - Bunjyaku
Adjective describing being weak and lost the respect towards martial capabilities. To become complacent in peacetime and to lose the will to become brave.

17. 兵農おのつから二に分れ - Heinou onotsukara futatsu ni wakare
The soldier and the farmer split into two different roles. During ancient times soldiers and farmers are both the same thing. However near the end of the Heian period, the two roles became more and more separate. (Note: While they still did drafted civilians into battle, the noble military class begun its rise right around here) "Onotsukara" means "Naturally becomes"

18. 壯兵 - Souhei
Volunteer soldiers.

19. 武士となり - Bushi to nari
Become bushi(Soldier). As the old style of drafting was replaced, a new class emerges from the noble warrior class.

20. 棟梁 - Touryou
The pillar.

21. 歸し - Kishi
To belong

22. 其手に落ち - Sonote ni Ochi
Fallen into ones hands.


Translation:
In the ancient times, the imperial rule was that the emperor personally leads his army. While there are cases of the empress or the prince leading an army in his place. Giving his follower the ability to lead an army was never heard of. As the time goes on into the medieval era, our political structure and organization started to imitate the Chinese. Those changes led to the creation of the 6 palace guard offices, the stable offices, the border guards. Our military became more structured. As we approach the nara, heian periods. People became complacent in the peaceful times and the court come to not relying on it's military strength. While in the old days, a farmer was a soldier at the same time. But they changed the old ways of drafting soldiers and our military became a volunteer army. In this volunteer army rises the new noble class. As they passes on their power into their successor, the power of the military falls more and more into the hands of the leaders of the warrior class. From the begging of the Kamakura shogunate to the end of the Tokugawa shogunate, the next 700 or so years the power became focused on the noble warrior class instead of the emperor.


Notes:
While there are a few historical mistakes, this is a short summary on how the emperors powers fell into the hands of the shoguns. It's trying to draw the parallels between the ancient drafting system to the new drafting orders. As if reminding the readers that drafting is an ancient tradition of Japan that was only lost because of the rise of the shogunate and the noble warrior class. Also makes a jab towards the Nara, Heian periods as it blames the peaceful era leading to a complacent court that gave rise to the warrior class and inadvertently caused the military power to fall into their hands.

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This is just the first two paragraphs and I am hoping to continue writing more. There is a LOT more to cover and we aren't even close to the tenants yet!

Japanese Pre-war Government Official System

The pre-war Japanese system of government bureaucrats is quite an un-intuitive system that resembles nothing from the western world.

All government employees are subdivided into a multitude of levels. Keep in mind while the military actually used the same system of different levels, they usually kept to referring to their respective military rank rather than their government official rank.

To begin with, government officials are seperated into roughly 4 seperate levels. The Koutoukan, the high ranking officials; the Hanninkan, the junior officials; Ko-in, Hired personnel; and the Younin, the servants.

All of those above are government employees, but their salary and jobs vastly varied from one another. And among Koutoukans, other than the highest rank Shinninkan, they are subdivided into 9 different levels that have different monthly salary, with the top two level counted as Chokuninkan, and the rest Souninkan.

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• Shinninkan 

This is the highest of the high ranking officials, they are the top 3 level of the high ranking officials, and their position may only be appointed by the Emperor himself. Some examples of this position are as follows. For the military, army division commanders, navy fleet commanders. For the civilian government, prime ministers, state secretary, first justice of the supreme court, attorney general.

Among the weirdness of the government official system, there is also a system for lower rank officials that have long year of services to receive "Shinnin Kan Treatment". Some examples include imperial college chancellors, police superintendent general. This rule extends to all the following ranks, and serves as a sort of award to long term veterans that didn't get promoted or plateau'd.

• Chokuninkan

Chokuninkan consists of the first two levels of Koutoukan, they are positions appointed by the government directly. The candidates are submitted by the prime minister and submitted to the Emperor for approval. The Emperor usually rubber stamps these appointment unless something was really out of place.

Some examples of Chokuninkan are, deputy of the ministry of the imperial palace, prefecture governors and deputy governors,  police superintendent general.

• Souninkan

Souninkan consist of the remaining 7 levels of Koutoukan, they are appointed directly by the prime minister using power vested in him by the Emperor. (In theory, in actuality the deputy does most of the appointment).

Those that made it into this catagory are usually promoted from a junior official, a Hanninkan. Or if your official examination was particularly high ranked, you might get appointed to one of these positions. (Nothing too priestige though, if you didn't have a family history in the government)

They are usually the supervisors in each ministry, and government organizations. 

• Hanninkan

Hanninkan are the lowest rank of the government officials, they are usually hired through passing the official government examination for various organization. Police patrolmen, government accountant, and navy dockyard engineers are all Hanninkan. They consist the largest amount of government officials.

They are subdivided into 10 separate levels and all have different levels of salary.

• Ko-in

Ko-in are the hired personnel of the government. Usually that means they aren't actual government officials, just specialized skills. Examples include, drivers, guards, nurses, document translators. For military hired personnel, sometimes they are sent out on deployments alongside the actual military as support roles.

• Younin

Younin are the lowest of the lowest of the government personnel. They translates to "servants" literally. Some examples of them are, boot shiners, cooks, copier, receptionists, laundry. Basically the most basic functions of the government. While working under the military they may also be deployed, and are usually as coolies, builders.

There are also two more levels beneath them, but I am going to simplify them here and just give a short description as they are not relevant to the topic at hand. Shotaku, temporary hires of the government, these CAN be high level officials, just temporary. Kouin, non-specialized labor, manual laborers hired by the government, most commonly work as factory labor.

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That's about it, there are also intricacies about ones actual rank but the "treatment rank". And military personnel actually fit into this system as I earlier said, but rarely refer to themselves into any of the category. But they still follow the appointment system for the high ranking officials. Generals are Shinninkan so they must be appointed directly by the Emperor.

Government officials across different agencies all use the same ranking system,  each of them having different way of hiring, and appointments. However, due to the universal system they can assign pay in a fairly straightforward way. Much similar to the modern US Federal GS pay levels. But since Japan was a centralized government, individual prefectures also follow it and simplifies it a lot.

And since we are a military focused blog. We have to mention the civilian government workers in the military. Government officials working under the Army and the Navy follow the exact same rule, but have their own unique uniforms and regulations to follow. The army due to having most of their inner bureaucracy filled in by actual army members, have relatively few post for their civilian hires. The navy in contrast have a lot of civilian hires that do much more specialized jobs. The navy's base security, criminal investigation are all done by their civilian hires, unlike the army which had their military police to do those jobs.

For the Army, most do wear a distinct other type of uniform, especially on the field during deployments. They are separate from regular army uniform, and have a star patch with different coloring signifying their ranks on their shoulder. Before the uniform was designed and order they wore regular suits with the shoulder patch.

For the navy, while a distinct set of uniforms was designed, for the actual officials their uniform was incredibly similar to the actual navy officers. The only difference was their rank, and their cap badge having a wave chevron across the anchor instead. This led to a lot of confusion, and a lot of the navy civilian personnel instead opted to wear suits with a civilian employee pin badge on their lapel. Each different rank of official corresponded to different lapel pins. However, while on deployments they can not wear the pins. And instead are required to wear their utterly confusing uniforms. (The reason for the design of the uniform was for uniformity during formation) Discounting the base guards of course, they have their own unique uniforms. For our purposes the main changes to the navy civilian official uniforms were in showa 6, and showa 17. With the 17 regulation changing to a open collar 4 button jacket, with double chest pocket and 2 bottom pockets, much like a Kokumin wear.

Pins from the regulations

The civilian officials in the military, as in Hanninkan and above, consist of a really small population of the military. Only ending at 3% of the total population of the military. With the vast majority of those being Hanninkan.

And onwards, while I did mention that the Hanninkan are mostly those that past an agency official examination. In the military civilian employee world that is not often the case, as there really was no official examination for either branch. Of course, I am discounting the cases where the officials are hired based on their specialized skillsets. Most officials rose through the ranks as an Kouin or Ko-in, written as 雇員, 工員. The military branches are surprisingly merit based, as far as the civilian employees are concerned. And the ranks are quite fluid, as long as you got the skills to prove them. Both branches also set up specialized schools to further train, and promote those that show potential. 

In a way the working as a civilian employee for the military may be one of the best careers one could make in pre-war Japan. Simply due to the fluid nature of the ranks and tendencies to quickly promote those that show merit. Working as a hired personnel and factory labor can then be seen as some sort of on the job training for the employees, with the later schools set up to further train you ahead.

While in the military culture, these civilian workers are considered to be below that of a soldier. There is a saying in the army that the ranking of the military goes like this, Officers > Military Horse > Military Dogs > Enlisted men > Civilian Employees. But the merit based culture, the quick promotion, and free training might just be good enough to offset that.

References:
Ministry of Internal Affairs, Government Official Hiring Rules and Regulation - Taisho 2nd Imperial Order 261, 1914
Ministry of Navy, Order 252 of Showa 14, 1934 
Ministry of Internal Affairs, Military and Civilian Government Official Level Order - Meiji 43 Imperial Order 267, 1910
Ministry of Navy, Yearly Report of Showa 17, 1937
Ujike Yasuhiro, On the hiring and the appointment of government officials, JSDF Historical Division, 2006