Dai-gensui

Highest rank in the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy Dai-gensui大元帥 (Japanese)The Shōwa Emperor in the dress uniform of a grand marshal (c. 1935)Country Empire of JapanService branch Imperial Japanese Army Imperial Japanese NavyFormation1872Abolished1947Next lower rankGensui (army and navy variant) The Supreme Commander-in-chief of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy (Japanese: 大元帥陸海軍大将, romanized: Dai-gensui-riku-kai-gun-taishō) was the highest rank of the Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1872 to 1945, when the Empire of Japan was dissolved. The rank of dai-gensui was the highest rank in the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces and was held solely by the Emperor of Japan in his capacity as Supreme commander-in-chief. It formally became obsolete in 1945 when the Imperial Japanese military was abolished. History The term originated from the Chinese military title da yuan shuai (大元帥), a title higher than yuan shuai (元帥, pronounced gensui in Japanese). Decree No. 252 by the Dajokan, dated 7 September 1872, formally recognized the rank of dai-gensui; however, no appointments were made before the rank was abolished along with that of g