(1) OFFICERS
Japanese officers’ full-dress uniform is very like full-dress English.
The difference lies in the sword, which is a dirk, and the cap, which
is rather Russian in shape, and has a gold band round it.
The reefer jacket does not exist. In place of it they wear a dark blue
military undress tunic, buttoning at the neck with stand-up collar, and
black braid down the front. There are no gold insignia of rank; these
are of black braid, with a loop for the military branch, just like
the gold ones. Engineers, paymasters, and doctors have their stripes
in black; but, being without the mauve, white, or red distinguishing
badge between the stripes with their undress, it is impossible to
distinguish. Cocked hats and frockcoats are identical with ours. Owing
to the extra number of ranks, the stripes vary slightly from ours. They
are:—
Sub-lieutenant or equivalent 1
1st class sub-lieutenant or equivalent 1½
Lieutenant 2
Senior lieutenant 2½
Lieutenant-commander 3
Commander 3½
Captain 4
These are the usual gold stripes.
Admirals have stripes just like ours. No special illustrations of these
various stripes are given, as the photographs of officers of different
ranks throughout the book show them clearly.
There is no dress uniform in the Japanese Navy, but the national kimino
is often worn at dinner.
Constructors wear a uniform identical with that of paymasters in
undress.
Warrant officers wear a uniform closely akin to that of commissioned
officers. Ordinary warrant officers have no stripes. Chief warrant
officers wear a half stripe.
(2) MEN.
The uniform of Japanese seamen is identical with that of British
seamen, save that the cap is a little flatter and nearer the French
shape. The cap ribbon is just like ours—the name of the depôt instead
of ship is on it in Chinese characters.