| Japanese: Rikugun-gensui | |
| Native Name: | Japanese: 陸軍元帥 |
| Formation: | 19 July 1872 |
| Abolished: | 1945 |
| Higher Rank: | Japanese: [[Dai-gensui]] |
| Lower Rank: | General |
| Equivalents: | Japanese: [[Gensui (Imperial Japanese Navy)|Gensui]] (Navy) |
, formal rank designations: was the highest title in the pre-war Imperial Japanese military.
The title originated from the Chinese title yuanshuai (元帥).
The term gensui, which was used for both the Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy, was at first a rank held by Saigō Takamori as the Commander of the Armies (陸軍元帥 Rikugun-gensui) in 1872. However, in May 1873 Saigō was "demoted" to general, with gensui thereafter no longer a rank as such, but a largely honorific title awarded for extremely meritorious service to the Emperor - thus similar in concept to the French title of Marshal of France. Equivalent to a five-star rank (OF-10), it is similar to Field Marshal in the British Army and General of the Army in the United States Army.
While gensui would retain their actual ranks of general or admiral, they were entitled to wear an additional enamelled breast badge, depicting paulownia leaves between crossed army colors and a naval ensign under the Imperial Seal of Japan. They were also entitled to wear a special samurai sword (katana) of a modern design on ceremonial occasions.
In the Meiji period, the title was awarded to five generals and three admirals. In the Taishō period it was awarded to six generals and six admirals, and in the Shōwa period it was awarded to six generals and four admirals. The higher title of dai-gensui was comparable to the title of generalissimo and was held only by the Emperor himself.
Note that several were promoted the same year they died; these were posthumous promotions.
| Portrait | Name | Japanese name | Lifespan | Promotion date | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese: 西郷 隆盛 | 1828–1877 | July 20, 1872 – May 8, 1873 | Kagoshima | |||
| Japanese: 小松宮彰仁親王 | 1846–1903 | January 20, 1898 | Imperial Family | |||
| Japanese: 山県 有朋 | 1838–1922 | January 20, 1898 | Yamaguchi | |||
| Japanese: 大山 厳 | 1842–1916 | January 20, 1898 | Kagoshima | |||
| Japanese: 野津 道貫 | 1841–1908 | January 31, 1906 | Kagoshima | |||
| Japanese: 奥 保鞏 | 1847–1930 | October 24, 1911 | Fukuoka | |||
| Japanese: 長谷川 好道 | 1850–1924 | January 9, 1913 | Yamaguchi | |||
| Japanese: 伏見宮貞愛親王 | 1858–1923 | January 9, 1913 | Imperial Family | |||
| Japanese: 川村 景明 | 1850–1926 | January 9, 1913 | Kagoshima | |||
| Japanese: 寺内 正毅 | 1852–1919 | June 24, 1916 | Yamaguchi | |||
| Japanese: 閑院宮載仁親王 | 1865–1945 | December 12, 1919 | Imperial Family | |||
| Japanese: 上原 勇作 | 1856–1933 | April 27, 1921 | Miyazaki | |||
| Japanese: 久邇宮邦彦王 | 1873–1929 | January 27, 1929 (posthumous) | Imperial Family | |||
| Japanese: 梨本宮守正王 | 1874–1951 | August 8, 1932 | Imperial Family | |||
| Japanese: 武藤 信義 | 1868–1933 | May 3, 1933 | Saga | |||
| Japanese: 寺内 寿一 | 1879–1946 | June 21, 1943 | Tokyo | |||
| Japanese: 杉山 元 | 1880–1945 | June 21, 1943 | Fukuoka | |||
| Japanese: 畑 俊六 | 1879–1962 | June 2, 1944 | Fukushima |
The title was also bestowed on King George V of the United Kingdom on October 29, 1918.[1]