The ID numbers given to individuals in the Japanese Navy are not just simply numbers, but come with kanji codes that say more about that person. These numbers are found on name tags on navy uniforms and equipment, and therefore are often the subject of translation requests on this forum , so here is a short guide on how to read them.
Numbers for EM and NCOs
The official name of the number is Nyuseki Bangou (入籍番号) meaning, Entry Registry Number. Naval recruits were sent to Kaiheidan (海兵団) located at naval bases for their induction training. There they were entered into a register called Nyuseki Bo (入籍簿) Entry Registry Book. So the ID number is always prefaced by the abbreviation for the name of the Kaiheidan, which can be the following.
Position 1
横 for 横須賀（Yokosuka） 呉 for（Kure） 佐 for 佐世保 （Sasebo）
舞 for舞鶴（Maizuru） 鎮for鎮海 (Chinkai, Korea) 高for高雄(Takao, Taiwan)
Position 2
The above Kanji is followed by another kanji code, which will be one of the following
徴 for徴兵Chouhei（Draftee）Actually, most cases simplify the Kanji further by only writing the middle of the 3 structures standing vertically to form the kanji, Cho.
志for 志願shigan （Volunteer）
However, later in the war, when reserves were mobilized, this position also showed what level of reserve personnel he was, as denoted by the following (detailed explanations omitted as these are not often seen)
一補for第一補充兵役 二補for第二補充兵役 国for第二国民兵役 練for予備練習生 補for予備補習生
Position 3
The above is further followed by another kanji denoting the branch, which are typically one of the following
水for水兵 Suihei (Sailor) 飛for飛行兵 Hikouhei(Flight) 整for整備兵Seibihei(Flight Mechanics)
機for機関兵Kikanhei (Engineer) 衛for衛生兵Eiseihei (Medical) 主for主計兵 Shukeihei (Admin)
楽for軍楽兵 Gungakuhei (Band)
Position 4
At last came the 4 digit number written in Kanji
Notes
The number stayed with you throughout your military career and normally would not change. The only exceptions were (1)When you were first drafted, fulfilled your term of service and then reenlisted for another term. In this case you would be shifting from a draftee to volunteer. (2) Changing the branch by volunteering for flight duty is the other possibility.
Naval Band members would without exception have ID numbers starting with横志楽, as only Yokosuka had band training and band members were only chosen from volunteers
Numbers for Officers
Officers had a totally different ID number system called Denpoufu 電報符, meaning telegraph code, consisting of simply 5 digit numbers for officers of fighting branches, and for specialist officers like medical, admin, etc the numbers were preceded by a katakana abbreviation of their field of specialty
Numbers for EM and NCOs
The official name of the number is Nyuseki Bangou (入籍番号) meaning, Entry Registry Number. Naval recruits were sent to Kaiheidan (海兵団) located at naval bases for their induction training. There they were entered into a register called Nyuseki Bo (入籍簿) Entry Registry Book. So the ID number is always prefaced by the abbreviation for the name of the Kaiheidan, which can be the following.
Position 1
横 for 横須賀（Yokosuka） 呉 for（Kure） 佐 for 佐世保 （Sasebo）
舞 for舞鶴（Maizuru） 鎮for鎮海 (Chinkai, Korea) 高for高雄(Takao, Taiwan)
Position 2
The above Kanji is followed by another kanji code, which will be one of the following
徴 for徴兵Chouhei（Draftee）Actually, most cases simplify the Kanji further by only writing the middle of the 3 structures standing vertically to form the kanji, Cho.
志for 志願shigan （Volunteer）
However, later in the war, when reserves were mobilized, this position also showed what level of reserve personnel he was, as denoted by the following (detailed explanations omitted as these are not often seen)
一補for第一補充兵役 二補for第二補充兵役 国for第二国民兵役 練for予備練習生 補for予備補習生
Position 3
The above is further followed by another kanji denoting the branch, which are typically one of the following
水for水兵 Suihei (Sailor) 飛for飛行兵 Hikouhei(Flight) 整for整備兵Seibihei(Flight Mechanics)
機for機関兵Kikanhei (Engineer) 衛for衛生兵Eiseihei (Medical) 主for主計兵 Shukeihei (Admin)
楽for軍楽兵 Gungakuhei (Band)
Position 4
At last came the 4 digit number written in Kanji
Notes
The number stayed with you throughout your military career and normally would not change. The only exceptions were (1)When you were first drafted, fulfilled your term of service and then reenlisted for another term. In this case you would be shifting from a draftee to volunteer. (2) Changing the branch by volunteering for flight duty is the other possibility.
Naval Band members would without exception have ID numbers starting with横志楽, as only Yokosuka had band training and band members were only chosen from volunteers
Numbers for Officers
Officers had a totally different ID number system called Denpoufu 電報符, meaning telegraph code, consisting of simply 5 digit numbers for officers of fighting branches, and for specialist officers like medical, admin, etc the numbers were preceded by a katakana abbreviation of their field of specialty
.
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