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The Imperial Japanese Navy

Chapter 50: XV ENTRY OF MEN
By Fred T. Jane
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About This Book

The author surveys the development of Japanese naval forces from their earliest origins through rapid modern expansion, recounting earlier conflicts and the fleet’s contemporary organization. The narrative interleaves historical episodes with technical and institutional analysis: shipbuilding programmes, dockyards and harbours, armament and engineering (guns, torpedoes, armour, engines and boilers), and detailed descriptions of individual warships. Personnel matters receive extended treatment, including entry, training, pay, uniforms, mess arrangements, and character of officers and ratings. Numerous illustrations and appendices compile official reports, ship lists, and explanatory glossaries, while comparative observations relate foreign practices to domestic naval policy and capabilities.

XV
ENTRY OF MEN

Bluejackets

By the law of Japan, every male of the age of twenty has to draw lots for the conscription, unless he is already serving. As a matter of fact, however, there are comparatively few conscript sailors in the Imperial Navy, as young Japanese volunteer for service in large numbers.

All candidates undergo a physical examination; and also a literary examination in elementary writing, reading, and arithmetic.

Volunteers are accepted between the ages of seventeen and twenty-one years, and sign on for six years’ service.

Conscripts are compelled to serve four years.

Both classes may volunteer to continue serving up to the following ages, when they are pensioned off:—

Seamen   40   years.
Petty officers 45 ”
Warrant officers 50 ”
Chief warrant officers 55 ”

Warrant and chief warrant officers in the Japanese Navy never undertake watch-keeping as in the British Navy. In no cases do they mess with the commissioned officers, as in our destroyers, torpedo boats, and torpedo gunboats, but, even in destroyers, have always their own mess.

They are not eligible for promotion to commissioned rank.