Japanese military aircraft designation systems

The Japanese military aircraft designation systems for the Imperial period (pre-1945) had multiple designation systems for each armed service. This led to the Allies' use of code names during World War II, and these code names are still better known in English-language texts than the real Japanese names for the aircraft. A number of different schemes were simultaneously in use.

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

The used several different aircraft designation systems simultaneously. Between 1931 and 1945, aircraft had Shi numbers designating the specification they were designed to. They also had a long form of Type and Model Number system used between 1920 and 1943, a short designation system akin to that of the United States Navy in use between the late 1920s and 1945, a system of popular names introduced to replace type numbers from 1943 through 1945.

Specification Shi numbers

Japanese Navy specifications from 1931 were given an experimental, or Shi (試) number, based on the year of the Emperor's reign the specification was issued in. Since multiple specifications could be issued in a year, the number was disambiguated with the aircraft purpose.

During the period this designation system was in use, the Emperor in question was Hirohito, the Showa Emperor, thus the years of Showa were those used, which began in 1926.

Thus, the Mitsubishi Zero was designed to meet the 1937 specification called 12-shi carrier fighter.

Long Type and Model Number system

After 1929, aircraft types were given a type number based on the last two digits of the Japanese imperial year (which is counted from the mythical founding of Japan in 660BC by Emperor Jimmu). Added to this was a brief description of the aircraft's function. The Mitsubishi Zero was so-called because entered service in 1940 which was the Japanese year 2600, thus it was designated Type 0 Carrier Fighter.

The system was abandoned in 1943, when it was decided that it gave away too much information about the aircraft.

Short system

In the late 1920s a short designation scheme was adopted, which was similar to the 1922 United States Navy aircraft designation system. This scheme used a letter or two letters to designate a type of aircraft, a number to indicate the Navy Design Request Number in that type of aircraft, and finally a letter to designate the manufacturer. Unlike the US Navy system, the Japanese system did not have a different number series for each manufacturer, and did not omit the number "1".

Thus, the Zero's type in this designation system was A6M, which meant the sixth type of carrier fighter under this designation system, and that it was built by Mitsubishi.

Variants were indicated by an additional number at the end; repurposing an aircraft was indicated by a dash and then the new type letter.

{| cellspacing="20" style="width:90%"

|valign="top"|

{|class="wikitable sortable"

|+Aircraft type letters

!Letter!!Characters!!Western letters!!Type of Aircraft

|A||艦上戦闘機||Kanjyo Sento-ki||Carrier-based fighter

|B||艦上攻撃機||Kanjyo Kougeki-ki||Carrier-based attack bomber

|C||艦上偵察機||Kanjyo Teisatsu-ki||Carrier-based Reconnaissance

|D||艦上爆撃機||Kanjyo Bakugeki-ki||Carrier-based dive bomber

|E||水上偵察機||Suijyo Teisatsu-ki||Reconnaissance seaplane

|F||水上観測機||Suijyo Kansoku-ki||Observation seaplane

|G||陸上攻撃機||Rikujo Kougeki-ki||Land-based attack bomber

|H||飛行艇||Hiko-tei||Flying boat

|J||陸上戦闘機||Rikujyo Sento-ki||Land-based fighter

|K||練習機||Renshuu-ki||Trainer

|L||輸送機||Yuso-ki||Transport

|M||特殊機||Tokushu-ki||Special purpose

|N||水上戦闘機||Suijyo Sento-ki||Seaplane fighter

|P||陸上爆撃機 ||Rikujyo Bakugeki-ki|| Land-based bomber

|Q||哨戒機 ||Shokaiki|| Patrol aircraft

|R||陸上偵察機||Rikujyo Teisatsu-ki|| Land-based reconnaissance

|S||夜間戦闘機||Yakan Sento-ki||Night fighter

|X||実験||Tokushu-ki (Jikken)||Experiment (used with other designations)

|valign="top"|

{|class="wikitable sortable" border="1"

|+Manufacturer letters

!Letter!!Japanese Manufacturers!!Foreign Manufacturers

|A||Aichi||North American

|B||n/a||Boeing

|C||n/a||Consolidated

|D||Showa||Douglas

|F||n/a||Grumman

|G||Hitachi||Goodyear

|H||Hiro||Hawker

|He||n/a||Heinkel

|J||Nihon||Junkers

|K||Kawanishi||Kinner

|M||Mitsubishi||Airspeed

|N||Nakajima||n/a

|P||Nihon||Potez

|S||Sasebo||n/a

|Si||Showa||n/a

|V||n/a||Vought

|W||Watanabe/Kyūshū||n/a

|Y||Yokosuka||n/a

|Z||Mizuno||n/a

Official names

After July 1943, names were given to Navy aircraft instead of type designations. These names were given according to a scheme based on the aircraft's role. These were official names, in contrast to Army aircraft whose names were popular nicknames.

Fighters: Weather and meteorological names
Carrier fighters and seaplane fighters: Wind names usually ending with pū or fū (風)
Interceptors: Lightning names ending in den (電)
Night fighters: Light names ending in kō (光)
Attack planes: Mountains names ending in zan (山)
Bombers: Star or constellation names usually ending in sei (星)
Patrol: Sea or ocean names ending in kai (海) or yō (洋)
Reconnaissance: Cloud names ending in un (雲)
Trainers: Trees, plants and flowers
Transports: Sky names ending in kū (空)
Miscellaneous: Landscape names
Purpose-built kamikaze aircraft: Flower names ending in ka (花)

Special cases include aircraft that employed non-conventional (i.e. non-propeller-driven) propulsion schemes like the rocket-powered interceptor Shūsui (poetic term meaning "Sharp Sword") and aircraft used for non-conventional deployments such as Special Attacker Seiran ("Mountain Haze"; deployed from submarines to strike targets behind the frontline and expected to be ditched upon returning to motherships).

Imperial Japanese Army Air Service

The (IJAAS) used a straightforward system based on year of service and type, nearly identical to the Navy's long type and model number system. This system was used from 1927, replacing an earlier system in which a manufacturer type code from a Japanese Kanji ordinal from the Heavenly stems was assigned to the aircraft from each company, as well as a type number. With additional types being added, this system quickly became cumbersome. Assigned letters included for Nieuport, for Salmson, for SPAD, for Farman, for Caudron, and for Hanriot.

The was also used and became prominent in later years.

Long Type and Model Number system

The first part of the designation was a two-digit type number based on the Japanese year in which the aircraft entered service. A minor exception was the year 1940 (2600), for which the type number 100 rather than zero was used. This was followed by a description of the aircraft's function. If there were two or more aircraft with the same type and function, the latter was enhanced to further differentiate them. An example is the Type 2 single-seat fighter (the Nakajima Ki-44) and the Type 2 two-seat fighter (Kawasaki Ki-45).

Major modifications (such as a different engine) were indicated with a subtype number, officially in kanji but often in Roman numerals. Small-scale modifications (such as armament) are indicated with a Japanese Kanji ordinal from the Heavenly stems:- kō (甲), otsu (乙), hei (丙), tei (丁), bo (戊), ki (己), which equate to:- a (first), b (second), c (third), d (fourth), e (fifth), but are NOT direct translations. The character "kai"(改) was used if the modifications were large but not enough for a new type number.

Short designation ("Ki" number)

The airframe designation indicates the project number (written in Arabic numerals), and was assigned in sequence to all projects regardless of manufacturer or type.

In the same way, gliders use the designation, and autogyros the .

Popular names

Popular names such as "Hayabusa" (the Nakajima Ki-43) were not part of the official designation.

Calendars and Type numbers

Data from:

Type numbers were assigned by both the Army and Navy followed the Taisho number sequence, the number of years the Emperor Taisho had been on the throne until Emperor Showa replaced him on 25 December 1926, which started the Showa sequence, at which time, the numbering was matched to the last two, or later one digit of the Imperial Japanese calendar year. The Navy began assigning Shisaku numbers to denote experimental types being evaluated by the Navy, whose numbering matched those of the Showa sequence. As no new designs were assigned Type numbers between 26 December 1926 and the end of the year, no aircraft was designated Type 86 under the Showa sequence. The Taisho/Showa sequences were used for almost all equipment developed for both Army and Navy (including weapons, equipment, vehicles and even ships), so there can be many unrelated pieces of equipment covered under a single Type number.

{|class="wikitable"

|- style="text-align:center; background:#d8edff;"

!Year

!Japanese Year

!Nengo Era

!Type number

!Shisaku number

|1921||2581||Taisho 10||Type 10||

|1922||2582 ||Taisho 11||Type 11||

|1923||2583||Taisho 12||Type 12||

|1924||2584||Taisho 13||Type 13||

|1925||2585||Taisho 14||Type 14||

|1926||2586 ||Taisho 15/Showa 1||Type 15||

|1927||2587||Showa 2||Type 87||

|1928||2588||Showa 3||Type 88||

|1929||2589||Showa 4||Type 89||

|1930||2590||Showa 5||Type 90||

|1931||2591||Showa 6||Type 91||6-Shi

|1932||2592||Showa 7||Type 92||7-Shi

|1933||2593||Showa 8||Type 93||8-Shi

|1934||2594||Showa 9||Type 94||9-Shi

|1935||2595||Showa 10||Type 95||10-Shi

|1936||2596||Showa 11||Type 96||11-Shi

|1937||2597||Showa 12||Type 97||12-Shi

|1938||2598||Showa 13||Type 98||13-Shi

|1939||2599||Showa 14||Type 99||14-Shi

|1940||2600||Showa 15||Type 100 or 0||15-Shi

|1941||2601||Showa 16||Type 1||16-Shi

|1942||2602||Showa 17||Type 2||17-Shi

|1943||2603||Showa 18||Type 3||18-Shi

|1944||2604||Showa 19||Type 4||19-Shi

|1945||2605||Showa 20||Type 5||20-Shi

Designation table

This is a sortable table giving all the various designations and names of Japanese Military aircraft from circa 1925 to 1945.

Data from: and []

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service aircraft designations

{|class="wikitable sortable"

|- style="text-align:center; background:#d8edff;"

! Short Designation!!Official (long) Designation (All "types" are Navy)!!Experimental Designation!!Japanese Name!!Allied Code Name(s)!!Notes

|Nakajima A1N||Type 3 Carrier Fighter||||||||Biplane; licensed copy of the Gloster Gambet

|Nakajima A2N||Type 90 Carrier Fighter||||||||Biplane

|Nakajima A3N||Type 90 Training Fighter||||||||Two-seat biplane trainer developed from the A2N

|Nakajima A4N||Type 95 Carrier Fighter||||||||Biplane

|Mitsubishi A5M||Type 96 Carrier Fighter||9-shi Carrier Fighter||||CLAUDE/SANDY||

|Mitsubishi A5M4-K||Type 96 Training Fighter||||||||trainer variant

|Watanabe A5M4-K||Type 2 Training Fighter||15-shi Fighter-Trainer||||||trainer variant

|Mitsubishi A6M||Type 0 Carrier Fighter||12-shi Carrier Fighter||||ZEKE/HAMP/HAP||Unofficially Zero

|Mitsubishi A6M2-K/A6M5-K||Training Fighter||||||ZEKE||Trainer version of A6M

|Nakajima A6M2-N||Type 2 Fighter Seaplane||15-shi Fighter Seaplane||||RUFE||Floatplane variant of A6M

|Mitsubishi A7M||||17-shi Ko (A) Type Carrier Fighter||Reppū (Strong Wind)||SAM||

|Heinkel A7He||Type He Air Defence Fighter||||||JERRY||Heinkel He 112

|Kawanishi A8K||||20-Shi Carrier Fighter||||||Project, carrier-based fighter based on the J6K

|Mitsubishi A8M||||20-Shi Carrier Fighter||Rikufu (Land Breeze)||||Project

|Nakajima A8N||||20-Shi Carrier Fighter||||||Project

|Seversky A8V||Type S Two-seat Fighter||||||DICK||

|Boeing AXB||Type B Carrier Fighter||||||||One tested

|Canadian Car and Foundry AXG||Type G Carrier Fighter||||||||One tested

|Dewoitine AXD||Type D Carrier Fighter||||||||One tested

|Hawker AXH||Type H Carrier Fighter||||||||One tested

|Heinkel AXHe||Type He Interceptor Fighter|||||||| Three tested

|Vought AXV||Type V Interceptor Fighter||||||||One tested

|Mitsubishi B1M||Type 13 Carrier Attack Bomber||||||||Biplane

|Mitsubishi B2M||Type 89 Carrier Attack Bomber||||||||Biplane

|Kugisho B3Y||Type 92 Carrier Attack Bomber||||||||Biplane

|Mitsubishi B4M||||9-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker||||||Biplane

|Nakajima B4N||||9-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker||||||Lost to B4Y1

|Yokosuka B4Y||Type 96 Carrier Attack Bomber||9-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker||||JEAN||

|Mitsubishi B5M||Type 97-2 Carrier Attack Bomber||10-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker||||MABEL||

|Nakajima B5N||Type 97-1 & 97-2 Carrier Attack Bomber||10-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker||||KATE||

|Nakajima B5N1-K||Type 97 Model 1 Attacker-Trainer||||||KATE||B5N Trainer version

|Nakajima B6N||Carrier Attack Bomber Tenzan||14-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker||Tenzan (Heavenly Mountain)||JILL||

|Aichi B7A||Carrier Attack Bomber Ryūsei||16-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker||Ryūsei (Shooting Star)||GRACE||

|Aichi B8A||||20-shi Special Torpedo Bomber||Mokusei (Jupiter)||||Project

|Northrop BXN||||||||||2 imported

|Mitsubishi C1M||Type 10 Carrier Reconnaissance Aircraft||||||||Biplane

|Nakajima C2N||Fokker Reconnaissance Aircraft||||||||Naval version of Ki-6

|Nakajima C3N||Type 97 Carrier Reconnaissance Aircraft||10-shi Carrier (Land) Reconnaissance||||||Not proceeded with

|Aichi C4A||||13-shi High-speed Reconnaissance Plane||||||Project

|Mitsubishi C5M||Type 98 Reconnaissance Aircraft||||||BABS||

|Nakajima C6N||Carrier Reconnaissance Aircraft Saiun||17-shi Carrier (Land) Reconnaissance||Saiun (Iridescent Cloud)||MYRT||

|Potez CXP1||||||||||One tested (diesel)

|Aichi D1A||Type 94 Carrier Bomber||8-shi Carrier Dive Bomber||||SUSIE||

|Aichi D1A2/D2A||Type 96 Carrier Bomber||||||SUSIE||

|Nakajima D2N||||8-shi Carrier Bomber||||||Lost to D1A

|Yokosuka D2Y||||8-shi Carrier Bomber||||||Lost to D1A

|Aichi D3A||Type 99 Carrier Bomber||11-shi Carrier Dive Bomber||||VAL||

|Mitsubishi D3M||||11-shi Carrier Bomber||||||Lost to D3A

|Nakajima D3N||||11-shi Carrier Bomber||||||Lost to D3A

|Yokosuka D3Y1-K/D3Y2-K||Type 99 Bomber Trainer||||Myōjō (Venus)||||Trainer version of D3A

|Yokosuka D4Y||Carrier Bomber Suisei||13-shi Carrier Dive Bomber||Suisei (Comet)||JUDY/DOT||

|Yokosuka D4Y1-C/D4Y2-R||Type 2 Reconnaissance Aircraft||||||JUDY||Reconnaissance version of D4Y

|Yokosuka D5Y||Special Attacker Myōjō Kai||||||||Production designation for D3Y2-K

|Douglas DXD||Type D Attack Plane||||||||One tested

|Heinkel DXHe||Type He Attack Plane||||||||One tested

|Yokosuka E1Y||Type 14-1 Reconnaissance Seaplane||||||||Biplane

|Nakajima E2N||Type 15 Reconnaissance Seaplane||||||||Biplane

|Aichi E3A||Type 90-1 Reconnaissance Seaplane||||||||Biplane

|Nakajima E4N||Type 90-2 Reconnaissance Seaplane||||||||Biplane

|Nakajima E4N2-C||Type 90-2-3 Reconnaissance Aircraft||||||||Landplane version of E4N2

|Kawanishi E5K||Type 90-3 Reconnaissance Seaplane||||||||Biplane

|Yokosuka E5Y||Type 14-2 Kai-1 Reconnaissance Seaplane||||||||Biplane

|Yokosuka E6Y||Type 91 Reconnaissance Seaplane||||||||Biplane

|Aichi E7A||||7-shi Reconnaissance Seaplane||||||Lost to E7K

|Kawanishi E7K||Type 94 Reconnaissance Seaplane||7-shi Sea Reconnaissance||||ALF||

|Aichi E8A||||8-shi Reconnaissance Seaplane||||||Lost to E8N1

|Kawanishi E8K||||8-shi Reconnaissance Seaplane||||||Lost to E8N1

|Nakajima E8N||Type 95 Reconnaissance Seaplane||8-shi Sea Reconnaissance||||DAVE||

|Watanabe E9W||Type 96 Small Reconnaissance Seaplane||9-shi Sea Reconnaissance||||SLIM||Biplane

|Aichi E10A||Type 96 Night Reconnaissance Seaplane||9-shi Sea Reconnaissance||||HANK||Biplane flying boat

|Kawanishi E10K||Type 94 Transport Seaplane||9-shi Sea Reconnaissance||||||Biplane flying boat

|Aichi E11A||Type 98 Night Reconnaissance Seaplane||11-shi Sea Reconnaissance||||LAURA||

|Kawanishi E11K||Type 96 Transport Seaplane||11-shi Sea Reconnaissance||||||Lost to E11A1

|Aichi E12A||||12-shi Two-seat Reconnaissance Seaplane||||||

|Kawanishi E12K||||12-shi Two-seat Reconnaissance Seaplane||||||Project

|Nakajima E12N||||12-shi Two-seat Reconnaissance Seaplane||||||Lost to E12K

|Aichi E13A||Type 0 Reconnaissance Seaplane||12-shi Sea Reconnaissance||||JAKE||

|Kawanishi E13K||||12-shi Three-seat Reconnaissance Seaplane||||||Lost to E13A

|Watanabe E14W||||12-shi Small Reconnaissance Seaplane||||||

|Yokosuka E14Y||Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Seaplane||12-shi Sea Reconnaissance||||GLEN||

|Kawanishi E15K||Type 2 High-speed Reconnaissance Seaplane Shiun||14-shi Sea Reconnaissance||Shiun (Violet Cloud)||NORM||

|Aichi E16A||Reconnaissance Seaplane Zuiun||16-shi Sea Reconnaissance||Zuiun (Auspicious Cloud)||PAUL||

|Aichi F1A||||10-shi Observation Seaplane||||||Lost to F1M1

|Kawanishi F1K||||10-shi Observation Seaplane||||||Lost to F1M1

|Mitsubishi F1M||Type 0 Observation Seaplane||10-shi Sea Observation||||PETE||

|Mitsubishi G1M||Type 93 Land-based Attack||7-shi Twin-engine Carrier||||||Biplane

|Mitsubishi G1M||||8-shi Special Reconnaissance, later 8-Shi Land-based Medium Attack||||||Long Range Research, not 7-shi

|Hiro G2H||Type 95 Attack Bomber||7-shi Land Attacker||||||Monoplane

|Mitsubishi G3M||Type 96 Attack Bomber||9-shi Land Attacker||||NELL||

|Mitsubishi G4M||Type 1 Attack Bomber||12-shi Land Attacker||||BETTY||

|Nakajima G5N||||13-shi Attack Bomber Shinzan||Shinzan (Deep Mountain)||LIZ||

|Mitsubishi G6M||Type 1 Wingtip Convoy Fighter||||||BETTY||

|Mitsubishi G6M1-K||Type 1 Large Land Trainer||||||BETTY||Trainer variant of G6M

|Mitsubishi G6M1-L2||Type 1 Transport||||||BETTY||Transport variant of G6M

|Mitsubishi G7M||||16-shi Attack Bomber Taizan||Taizan (Great Mountain)||||Project

|Nakajima G8N||||18-shi Attack Bomber Renzan||Renzan (Mountain Range)|| RITA ||

|Kawanishi G9K||||||||||Land-based attack bomber based on H8K, project; G9K is a post-war extrapolation

|Nakajima G10N||Super Heavy Bomber Fugaku||||Fugaku (Mount Fuji)||||Project; G10N is a post-war extrapolation

|Hiro H1H||Type 15 Flying boat||||||||Biplane

|Hiro H2H||Type 89 Flying boat||||||||Biplane

|Hiro H3H||Type 90-1 Flying boat||||||||Monoplane

|Kawanishi H3K||Type 90-2 Flying boat||||||BELLE||Biplane

|Hiro H4H||Type 91 Flying boat||||||||Monoplane

|Yokosuka H5Y||Type 99 Flying boat||9-shi Flying Boat||||CHERRY||

|Kawanishi H6K||Type 97 Flying boat||9-shi Flying Boat||||MAVIS||

|Kawanishi H6K2-L/H6K4-L||Type 97 Transport Flying boat||||||MAVIS||Unarmed transport version of H6K

|Yokosuka H7Y||||12-shi Special Flying boat||||TILLIE||Project

|Kawanishi H8K||Type 2 Flying boat||13-shi Flying Boat||||EMILY||

|Kawanishi H8K1-L||Type 2 Transport Flying Boat||||Seikū (Clear Sky)||EMILY||Armed transport variant of H8K1

|Kawanishi H8K2-L||Seikū, Model 32||||Seikū (Clear Sky)||EMILY||Armed transport variant of H8K2

|Kawanishi H8K4-L||Seikū, Model 33||||Seikū (Clear Sky)||EMILY||Armed transport variant of H8K4, project

|Aichi H9A||Type 2 Training Flying boat||13-shi Flying Boat||||||

|Hiro H10H||||14-shi Medium Flying boat||||||Project

|Kawanishi H11K1-L||Large-size Transport Flying boat Sōkū||||Sōkū (Blue Sky)||||Project

|Consolidated HXC||Type C Flying boat||||||||One tested

|Douglas HXD||Type D Flying boat||||||||Two tested

|Potez HXP1||||||||||One tested

|Nakajima J1N||||13-shi Three-seat Fighter||Gekkō (Moonlight)||||

|Nakajima J1N1-C/J1N1-R||Type 2 Reconnaissance Aircraft||13-shi Land Reconnaissance||||IRVING|| Long-range reconnaissance variant of J1N

|Nakajima J1N1-S||Night Fighter Gekkō||13-shi Night Fighter||Gekkō (Moonlight)||IRVING|| Night fighter variant of J1N

|Mitsubishi J2M||Land Fighter Raiden||14-shi Interceptor||Raiden (Lightning Bolt)||JACK||

|Kawanishi J3K||||17-shi Otsu (B) Type Interceptor Fighter||||||Project

|Mitsubishi J4M||||17-shi Otsu (B) Type Interceptor Fighter Senden||Senden (Flashing Lightning)|| LUKE || Project

|Nakajima J5N||||18-shi Otsu (B) Type Interceptor Fighter Tenrai||Tenrai (Heavenly Thunder)||||

|Kawanishi J6K||||18-shi Otsu (B) Type Interceptor Fighter Jinpū||Jinpū (Squall)||||Project

|Kyushu J7W||||18-shi Otsu (B) Type Interceptor Fighter Shinden||Shinden (Magnificent Lightning)||||

|Mitsubishi J8M||||19-shi Rocket-Powered Interceptor Fighter Shūsui||Shūsui (Sharp Sword)||||Army Ki-200

|Nakajima Kikka||Special Attacker Kikka/Imperial Weapon No.2||||Kikka (Orange Blossom)||||First Japanese jet aircraft

|Yokosuka K1Y||Type 13 Training Seaplane||||||||Biplane

|Yokosuka K2Y||Type 3 Primary Trainer||||||||Avro 504

|Mitsubishi K3M||Type 90 Operations Trainer||||||PINE||

|Yokosuka K4Y||Type 90 Training Seaplane||||||||

|Yokosuka K5Y||Type 93 Advanced Trainer||||||WILLOW||

|Kawanishi K6K||||11-shi Advanced Trainer Seaplane||||||Cancelled

|Mitsubishi K6M||||11-shi Advanced Trainer Seaplane||||||Cancelled

|Watanabe K6W||||11-shi Advanced Trainer Seaplane||||||Cancelled

|Mitsubishi K7M||||11-shi Crew Trainer||||||Cancelled

|Kawanishi K8K||Type 0 Primary Trainer Seaplane||12-shi Primary Trainer Seaplane||||||Biplane

|Nihon K8P||||12-shi Primary Trainer Seaplane||||||Cancelled

|Watanabe K8W||||12-shi Primary Trainer Seaplane||||||Lost to K8K

|Kyushu K9W||Type 2 Primary Trainer Momiji||14-shi Trainer||Momiji (Red Leaf)||CYPRESS||Bücker Bü 131

|Kyūshū K10W||Type 2 Intermediate Trainer||14-shi Land Middle Trainer||||OAK||

|Kyushu K11W||Operations Trainer Shiragiku||15-shi Trainer||Shiragiku (White Chrysanthemum)||||

|North American KXA||Type A Intermediate Trainer||||||||Two tested

|Bücker KXBu||Type Bu Primary Trainer||||||||Bücker Bü 131

|Caudron KXC||Type C Trainer||||||||One tested

|Heinkel KXHe||Type He Trainer||||||||One tested

|Junkers KXJ||Type J Trainer||||||||One tested

|Lockheed KXL||Type L Trainer||||||||One tested

|Nakajima L1N||Type 97 Transport||||||THORA||Naval version of Ki-34

|Showa/Nakajima L2D||Type D Transport & Type 0 Transport||||||TABBY||licence-built Douglas DC-3

|Yokosuka L3Y||Type 96 Transport||||||TINA||Converted G3M

|Mitsubishi L4M||||||||TOPSY||Naval version of Ki-57-I

|L5?||Unidentified transport||||||||No details

|L6?||Unidentified transport||||||||No details

|Nihon L7P||||13-shi Small Amphibious Transport||||||Cancelled

|Curtiss-Wright LXC||Type C Amphibious Transport||||||||One tested

|Douglas LXD||Type D Transport||||||||One tested

|Fairchild LXF||Type F Amphibious Transport||||||||One tested.

|Gasuden LXG||Special Liaison Transport||||||||KR-2 for VIP use.

|Grumman LXG||Grumman Amphibian Flying Boat||||||||One Grumman Goose tested

|Heinkel LXHe||Type He Transport||||||||One tested.

|Kinner LXK||Type K Transport||||||||One tested.

|Airspeed LXM||Type M Transport||||||||Two tested.

|Aichi M6A||Special Attack Bomber Seiran||17-shi special Attacker||Seiran (Clear Sky Storm)||||

|Aichi M6A1-K||Special Attack Training Bomber Nanzan||||Nanzan (South Mountain)||||Trainer variant of M6A

|Nihon MXJ1||Primary Training Glider Wakakusa||17-shi Exp. Research Plane||Wakakusa (Young Grass)||||

|Yokosuka MXY1||Test Aircraft||Prototype Experimental Aircraft No. 1||||||Research

|Yokosuka MXY2||Test Aircraft||Prototype Experimental Aircraft No. 2||||||Research

|Yokosuka MXY3||Target Glider||||||||Target drone

|Yokosuka MXY4||Yokosuka Navy Type 1 Target Aircraft||||||||Target drone

|Yokosuka MXY5||Transport Glider||16-shi Special Transport||||||

|Yokosuka MXY6||Ente-type Glider||||||||unpowered glider for J7W development

|Yokosuka MXY7||Special Attack Aircraft Ohka||||Ohka (Cherry blossom)||BAKA||

|Yokosuka MXY8||Training Glider Akigusa|||| Akigusa (Autumn grass)||||

|Yokosuka MXY9||Trainer Shūka||||Shūka (Autumn flower)||||Glider

|Yokosuka MXY10||Bomber Ginga Ground Decoy||||||||for P1Y

|Yokosuka MXY11||Type 1 Attack Bomber Ground Decoy||||||||for G4M

|Mizuno MXZ1||||17-shi Exp. Research Plane||||||Training glider

|Kawanishi N1K||Fighter Seaplane Kyōfū||15-shi Fighter Seaplane||Kyōfū (Strong Wind)||REX||

|Kawanishi N1K1-J||Land Fighter Shiden||||Shiden (Violet Lightning)||GEORGE||Landplane version of N1K

|Kawanishi N1K2-J/N1K5-J||Land Fighter Shiden Kai||||Shiden (Violet Lightning) modified||GEORGE||Landplane version of N1K2; N1K5-J was a projected high-altitude interceptor version

|Kawanishi N1K2-K||Training Fighter Shiden Kai Rensen||||Shiden (Violet Lightning) modified||GEORGE||Trainer version of N1K2

|Yokosuka P1Y||Bomber Ginga||15-shi Land Bomber||Ginga (Galaxy)||FRANCES||

|Yokosuka P1Y1-S||Night Fighter Ginga Model 21||15-shi Night Fighter|| || || Night fighter version of P1Y1

|Yokosuka P1Y2-S||Night Fighter Kyokkō||15-shi Night Fighter||initially Hakkō (Corona), later Kyokkō (Aurora)|| || Night fighter version of P1Y2

|Kyushu Q1W||Patrol Plane Tōkai||17-shi Patrol||Tōkai (Eastern Sea)|| LORNA ||

|Mitsubishi Q2M||||19-shi Patrol Plane Taiyo||Tai'yō (Great Sea)||||ASW derivative of the Ki-67; project

|Kyushu Q3W||Patrol Plane Nankai||||Nankai (Southern Sea)||||Based on K11W

|Yokosuka R1Y||||17-shi Reconnaissance Plane Seiun||Seiun (Dawn Cloud)||||Cancelled

|Yokosuka R2Y||||18-shi Reconnaissance Plane Keiun||Keiun (Cirrus Cloud)||||

|Aichi S1A||||18-shi Hei C Type Night Fighter Denkō||Denkō (Bolt of Light)||||

|n/a||||||Yasukuni (Shrine)||||Ki-67-I loaned from Army

|n/a||n/a||6-shi Carrier Bomber||||||Nakajima

|n/a||n/a||7-shi Carrier Fighter||||||

|n/a||n/a||7-shi Carrier Fighter|| ||||Nakajima Army Type 91 fighter for the Navy

|n/a||n/a||9-shi Carrier Fighter|| ||||Army's Nakajima Ki-11

|n/a||n/a||7-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker||||||Aichi Biplane

|n/a||n/a||7-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker||||||Mitsubishi Biplane

|n/a||n/a||7-shi Carrier Torpedo Attacker||||||Nakajima Biplane

|n/a||Type 10 Carrier Torpedo Bomber||||||||Triplane

|n/a||n/a||6-shi Carrier Dive Bomber||||||Nakajima, Crashed

|n/a||n/a||7-shi Carrier Dive Bomber||||||Nakajima

|n/a||n/a||17-shi Land Bomber||||||Kawanishi K-100

|n/a||n/a||6-shi Night Reconnaissance Flying Boat||||||Aichi (flying boat biplane)

|n/a||n/a||6-shi Two-seat Carrier Fighter||||||Nakajima NAF-1

|n/a||n/a||8-shi Two-seat Carrier Fighter|| ||||Mitsubishi Ka-8, crashed

|n/a||n/a||8-shi Two-seat Carrier Fighter||||||Nakajima NAF-2, Cancelled

|n/a||Special Attack||||Sukukaze (Cool Breeze)||OMAR||Fictional

|n/a||Special Attack Glider Shinryū|| ||Shinryū (Divine Dragon)|| ||Mizuno project

|n/a||Experimental Special Attacker 1||||Tōka (Wisteria flower)||||Navy Nakajima Ki-115

|n/a||Experimental Attack Plane 1||||Tozan (Eastern Mountain)||||

|n/a||Type 97 Reconnaissance Seaplane?||||||BOB||Aichi

|n/a||Type 98 Bomber Float Plane?||||||IONE