1.
major (army/air force); lieutenant commander (navy)
A mid-level military officer rank. In the army and air force, equivalent to major; in the navy, equivalent to lieutenant commander. Ranks above captain (大尉) and below lieutenant colonel (中佐).
Part of the Japanese military rank system. The officer ranks using 佐 from lowest to highest are: 少佐 (major), 中佐 (lieutenant colonel), 大佐 (colonel). The English equivalent depends on the branch: army/air force uses major, while navy uses lieutenant commander. Frequently encountered in war literature, historical accounts, and anime/manga with military settings.