Ask John: What’s the Explanation for the S Rank?

Question:
What’s the deal with the “S” rank? I keep noticing it in games and other places. Is it supposed to be like a superior thing? If so, why use the “A, B, C” to follow? Why not continue to make their own way?

Answer:
Japanese language has a particular tendency to borrow liberally from English. The English language ranking of “A” being the ultimate is based on the idea of “A” being the first letter of the English alphabet, so “A” is first, or number one. Japan has seemingly adpoted this ranking system, but expanded it with the “S” ranking that stands for “Super” or “Special.” The “S” rank signifies mastery that exceeds “number one.” The earliest example of an “S” rank I’m aware of is in SNK’s King of Fighters games from the 1990s. It can also be found in video games including Devil May Cry and Gundam: Senshi Tachi no Kiseki. Some of SNK’s King of Fighters games go so far as to include “SS” and “SSS” ranks that are two and three levels above “A” rank.