master sergeant; sergeant major (JSDF)
A senior non-commissioned officer rank in the Japan Self-Defense Forces, roughly equivalent to master sergeant or sergeant major in Western armies.
He was promoted to sergeant major in the Ground Self-Defense Force.
The master sergeant is responsible for supervising the unit's training.
chief warrant officer (Japanese Imperial Navy)
senior master sergeant (JASDF)
sergeant major
oligoclase
From Chinese-derived kanji 曹 (group, class) and 長 (leader, chief), used in modern Japanese military terminology.