noun
Obsolete military term for the lowest rank in the Japan Self-Defense Forces, roughly equivalent to a recruit or private. No longer in active use.
かつて自衛隊では、入隊直後の隊員は三士と呼ばれていた。
In the past, newly enlisted members of the JSDF were called 三士.
Standard kanji spelling for this obsolete military rank.
Variant spelling using the numeral ３; less common than 三士.
From 三 (three) and 士 (soldier/warrior), likely indicating the third or lowest tier of soldier ranks in the JSDF system. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.