noun
chief petty officer
A rank in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, equivalent to a senior non-commissioned officer. Not used in civilian contexts.
彼は海上自衛隊で上等兵曹として勤務している。
He serves as a chief petty officer in the Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Compound of 上等 (jōtō, 'superior grade') and 兵曹 (heisō, 'petty officer'), a term adopted in the modern Japanese naval ranking system.