Editing Japanese ship-naming conventions

{{Short description|Traditional naming patterns in Japan}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2024}}
Japanese ship names follow different conventions from those typical in the West. Merchant ship names often contain the word ''maru'' at the end (meaning ''circle''), while warships are never named after people, but rather after objects such as mountains, islands, weather phenomena, or animals.

== Merchant ships ==
The word {{Nihongo3||丸|maru|meaning "circle"}} is often attached to Japanese ship names. The first ship known to follow this practice was the ''Nippon Maru'', flagship of ''[[daimyō]]'' [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]]'s 16th century fleet.

Several theories purport to explain this practice:
*The most common is that ships were thought of as floating [[Japanese castle|castles]], and the word referred to the [[Courtyard|defensive "circles"]] or ''maru'' that protected the castle. 
*The suffix ''-maru'' is often applied to words representing something beloved, and sailors applied this suffix to their ships.  
*The term ''maru'' is used in divination and represents perfection or completeness, or the ship as "a small world of its own".
*The myth of ''[[Hakudo Maru]]'', a celestial being that came to earth and taught humans how to build ships. It is said that the name ''maru'' is attached to a ship to secure celestial protection for itself as it travels.
*For the past few centuries, only non-warships bore the ''-maru'' ending. Its use was intended as a good hope naming convention that would allow a ship to leave port, travel the world, and return safely to home port: hence the complete circle or "round trip" arriving back at its origin unhurt. 
*"[[Hinomaru]]", or "sun-disc", is a name often applied to the national flag of Japan.

Today many commercial and private ships are still named using this convention.

==Warships==
=== Early conventions ===
When the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] was formed, the [[Minister of the Navy of Japan|Ministry of the Navy]] submitted potential ship names to the [[Emperor of Japan|Emperor]] for approval. During the early years ships were often donated by the [[Shogunate]] or [[Japanese clans]] and the original clan names were kept.

In 1891 the procedure was changed due to changes in the government structure. Two ship names were submitted by the Minister of the Navy to the [[Lord Chamberlain of the Emperor of Japan|Lord Chamberlain]] who then presented the choices to the Emperor. The Emperor could either pick one of the suggested names or one of his own devising.

Ships captured during the [[First Sino-Japanese War]] kept their original names but with [[kanji|Japanese pronunciation]]. For example, the Chinese battleship [[Chinese battleship Chen Yuan|''Chen Yuan'']] became ''Chin'en'' in Japanese service.

In 1876 the Minister of the Navy was given the authority to choose the names of [[torpedo boat]]s without imperial approval. In 1902 the authority to name [[destroyer]]s was delegated to the Minister of the Navy as well.

In 1895 a proposal was made by the Minister of the Navy in an attempt to establish some standard. He proposed that battleships and cruisers be named for provinces or shrines dedicated to protecting Japan, that names of other warships be selected from the names for Japan or provinces.

Ships captured during the [[Russo-Japanese War]] were renamed with Japanese names. Some of these vessels were given names related to where they were captured or some other aspect of the war, such as the month of capture.  Some Russian ships were given Japanese names that were phonetically similar to their original Russian names (example: ''Angara'' became ''Anegawa'').

In 1921 the Minister of the Navy was given authority to name all ships except [[battleship]]s, [[battlecruiser]]s, and [[cruiser]]s. In any event the Navy had to report the new name to the Emperor immediately.

=== Establishment of ship naming conventions 1905 ===
On 23 April 1905, [[Ministry of the Navy of Japan|Naval Minister]] [[Yamamoto Gonnohyōe|Gonbee Yamamoto]] reported to the throne about a new ship naming standard. It was decided on 1 August 1905.

*[[Battleship]]: [[Provinces of Japan|provinces]], or alternate [[names of Japan]]
*[[Armored cruiser|First]] class [[cruiser]] (and over 7,500 tons displacement): mountains
*[[Protected cruiser|Second class]] cruiser (and over 3,500 tons displacement&mdash;less than 7,500 tons displacement): put the initial ''Ni'' (に)
*[[Dispatch boat|Third class]] cruiser (less than 3,500 tons displacement): put the initial ''Ha'' (は)
*Other ship names: They were named voluntarily by Naval Minister.
However, second class and third class cruisers ended up with river names because it became complicated.

It passed through some changes afterwards, the broad categories of names are given here, with examples, however, if the name is the succession to a ship's name, it is excluded from following contents.

*[[Aircraft carrier]]s&mdash;special names<ref>JACAR, C13071953800, p. 25, ''Report to the throne "Nomenclature of aircraft carrier"'', 18 December 1933, Minister of the Navy of Japan.</ref> (Many of them are an inheritance from the warship name in the [[Bakumatsu]] and the [[Meiji period]]).<ref>Shizuo Fukui (1996), p. 45.</ref> In fact, names related to flying animals, actual or mythological, were used.
**Fleet aircraft carrier; put the initial ''Ryū'' (龍, dragon), ''Tsuru (Kaku)'' (鶴, crane) or ''Ōtori (Hō)'' (鳳, phoenix) before/after her name
***[[Japanese aircraft carrier Hōshō|''Hōshō'']] (鳳翔) Flying phoenix
***[[Japanese aircraft carrier Ryūjō|''Ryūjō'']] (龍驤) Prancing dragon
***[[Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryū|''Hiryū'']] (飛龍) Flying dragon
***[[Japanese aircraft carrier Sōryū|''Sōryū'']] (蒼龍) Blue (or green) dragon
***[[Japanese aircraft carrier Shōkaku|''Shōkaku'']] (翔鶴) Flying crane
***[[Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku|''Zuikaku'']] (瑞鶴) Auspicious crane
***[[Japanese aircraft carrier Taihō|''Taihō'']] (大鳳) Great phoenix
**Converted warship; put the initial ''Ōtori (Hō)'' (鳳, phoenix) after her name
***[[Japanese aircraft carrier Zuihō|''Zuihō'']] (瑞鳳) Fortunate phoenix
***[[Japanese aircraft carrier Chitose|''Chitose'']] (千歳) and [[Japanese aircraft carrier Chiyoda|''Chiyoda'']] (千代田) did not change their name by a vote by the crews{{citation needed|date=December 2015}}.
**Converted merchant ship; put the initial ''Taka (Yō)'' (鷹, falcon/hawk) after her name
***{{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Jun'yō||2}} (隼鷹) Peregrine falcon
**And after 4 June 1943&mdash;added provinces and mountains
***[[Japanese aircraft carrier Amagi|''Amagi'']] (天城) [[Mount Amagi]]
***[[Japanese aircraft carrier Katsuragi|''Katsuragi'']] (葛城) [[Mount Yamato-Katsuragi]] on prefectural boundary [[Nara prefecture]]&mdash;[[Osaka Prefecture]]
*Battleships, including those converted into aircraft carriers&mdash;[[Provinces of Japan|provinces]] and alternate names for Japan.
**[[Japanese battleship Nagato|''Nagato'']] (長門) [[Nagato province]]
**[[Japanese battleship Yamato|''Yamato'']] (大和) [[Yamato Province]] (also an alternate name for Japan and its people)
**[[Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga|''Kaga'']] (加賀) [[Kaga Province]]
**[[Japanese battleship Fusō|''Fusō'']] (扶桑) [[Fusang]] (another name of Japan)
*[[Battlecruiser]]s and [[heavy cruisers]], including those converted into aircraft carriers&mdash;mountains
**[[Japanese battleship Kongō|''Kongō'']] (金剛) [[Mount Kongō]], a mountain in [[Osaka prefecture]]
**[[Japanese battleship Kirishima|''Kirishima'']] (霧島) [[Mount Kirishima]], a volcano in [[Kagoshima prefecture]]
**[[Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi|''Akagi'']] (赤城) [[Mount Akagi]], a volcano in the [[Kantō region]]
**[[Japanese cruiser Chōkai|''Chōkai'']] (鳥海) [[Mount Chōkai]], a volcano in the [[Tōhoku region]]
*[[Light cruiser]]s, including those converted into heavy cruisers&mdash;river names
**[[Japanese cruiser Tone (1937)|''Tone'']] (利根) [[Tone River]], a river in the [[Kantō region]]
**{{ship|Japanese cruiser|Chikuma|1938|2}} (筑摩) [[Chikuma River]], a river in [[Nagano prefecture]]
**[[Japanese cruiser Suzuya (1934)|''Suzuya'']] (鈴谷) [[Suzuya River]], a river in [[Karafuto prefecture]] (now [[Sakhalin]])
**[[Japanese cruiser Yūbari|''Yūbari'']] (夕張) [[Yūbari River]], a river in [[Hokkaidō]]
*[[Training cruiser]]s (post-1940)&mdash;[[Shinto shrine]]s
**[[Japanese cruiser Katori|''Katori'']] (香取) [[Katori Shrine]]
*[[Destroyer]]s
**Until 27 August 1912&mdash;weather, wind, tide, current, wave, moon, season, other natural phenomenon, plants
**And after 28 August 1912
***First class destroyers (and over 1,000 tons displacement)&mdash;weather, wind, tide, current, wave, moon, season, other natural phenomenon
****{{ship|Japanese destroyer|Ikazuchi|1931|2}} (雷) Thunder
****[[Japanese destroyer Yukikaze (1939)|''Yukikaze'']] (雪風) Snowy wind
****[[Japanese destroyer Michishio|''Michishio'']] (満潮) High tide
****[[Japanese destroyer Oyashio|''Oyashio'']] (親潮) [[Oyashio Current]]
****[[Japanese destroyer Sazanami (1931)|''Sazanami'']] (漣) Ripples on the water surface
****{{ship|Japanese destroyer|Takanami|1942|2}} (高波) High wave
****[[Japanese destroyer Mikazuki (1926)|''Mikazuki'']] (三日月) Crescent moon
****{{ship|Japanese destroyer|Yūgumo|1941|2}} (夕雲) Evening cloud
****{{ship|Japanese destroyer|Yūdachi|1936|2}} (夕立) Evening squall
****[[Japanese destroyer Mutsuki|''Mutsuki'']] (睦月) January in lunar calendar
****{{ship|Japanese destroyer|Wakaba|1934|2}} (若葉) Young leaves
****{{ship|Japanese destroyer|Yūgure|1934|2}} (夕暮) Twilight
****{{ship|Japanese destroyer|Hibiki|1932|2}} (響) Echo
***Second class destroyers (and over 600 tons displacement&mdash;less than 1,000 tons displacement)&mdash;plants
****[[Enoki-class destroyer|''Nara'']] (楢) [[Oak]]
****[[Momi-class destroyer|''Momi'']] (樅) [[Abies firma]]
****[[Wakatake-class destroyer|''Sanae'']] (早苗) Rice sprouts
**Between 12 October 1921&mdash;31 July 1928 under the [[Eight-eight fleet]] programme
***First class destroyers ([[Kamikaze-class destroyer (1922)|''Kamikaze'' class]], [[Mutsuki-class destroyer|''Mutsuki'' class]] and [[Fubuki-class destroyer|''Fubuki'' class]])&mdash;Odd numbers from 1 to 27, consecutive numbers and after 28
****[[Japanese destroyer Kamikaze (1922)|Destroyer No. 1]] (第1駆逐艦), renamed ''Kamikaze'' on 1 August 1928
****[[Japanese destroyer Shikinami (1929)|Destroyer No. 46]] (第46号駆逐艦), renamed ''Shikinami'' on 6 August 1928
***Second class destroyers ([[Wakatake-class destroyer|''Wakatake'' class]])&mdash;Even numbers from '2' to '26'
****[[Japanese destroyer Karukaya|Destroyer No. 18]] (第18駆逐艦), renamed ''Karukaya'' on 1 August 1928
**And after 4 June 1943
***[[Yūgumo-class destroyer|Type 'A' destroyer]]s&mdash;rain, tide
****''Akisame'' (秋雨) Autumn rain
****''Takashio'' (高潮) High tide
***[[Akizuki-class destroyer (1942)|Type 'B' destroyer]]s&mdash;wind, moon, cloud, season
****''Yamazuki'' (山月) Moon over a mountain
****''Yukigumo'' (雪雲) Snow cloud
****''Hae'' (南風) South wind of dialect word in [[Okinawa Prefecture]], standard Japanese is ''Minamikaze''
****''Hayaharu'' (早春) Early spring
***[[Matsu-class destroyer|Type 'D' destroyer]]s&mdash;plants
****[[Japanese destroyer Matsu (1944)|''Matsu'']] (松) Pine tree
****{{ship|Japanese destroyer|Nashi|1945|2}} (梨) [[Pyrus pyrifolia]]
****''Wakakusa'' (若草) Spring grass
*[[Torpedo boat]]s
**Until 15 January 1924
***First class torpedo boats (and over 120 tons displacement)&mdash;birds
****[[Hayabusa-class torpedo boat|''Hayabusa'']] (隼) Peregrine falcon
***Second class and third class torpedo boats (less than 120 tons displacement)&mdash;consecutive number from '1'
****[[:ja:第二一号型水雷艇|''Torpedo boat No. 21'']] (第21号水雷艇)
**And after 30 May 1931&mdash;birds
***[[Chidori-class torpedo boat|''Chidori'']] (千鳥) Plover
***[[Ōtori-class torpedo boat|''Kiji'']] (雉) Pheasant
*[[Submarine]]s
**Until 31 October 1924&mdash;consecutive number from '1'
***[[:ja:第一型潜水艦|''Submarine No. 1'']] (第1潜水艦)
***[[Kaidai-class submarine|''Submarine No. 44'']] (第44号潜水艦)
**And after 1 November 1924
***First class submarines (and over 1,000 tons displacement) &mdash; 'I' (伊) and consecutive number from '1', 'I' is first letter in the [[Iroha]]
****[[Japanese submarine I-1|''I-1'']] (伊号第1潜水艦) ''I-Gō Dai-1 sensuikan''
****[[Kaidai-class submarine|''I-51'']] (伊号第51潜水艦) ''I-Gō Dai-51 sensuikan''
***Second class submarines (and over 500 tons displacement &mdash; less than 1,000 tons displacement) &mdash; 'Ro' (呂) and consecutive number from '1', 'Ro' is second letter in the Iroha
****[[:ja:呂一型潜水艦|''Ro-1'']] (呂号第1潜水艦) ''Ro-Gō Dai-1 sensuikan''
****[[Japanese Type L submarine|''Ro-51'']] (呂号第51潜水艦) ''Ro-Gō Dai-51 sensuikan''
***Third class submarines (less than 500 tons displacement)&mdash;'Ha' (波) and consecutive number from '1', 'Ha' is third letter in the Iroha, third class submarines were unified to second class submarines on 30 May 1931
****[[:ja:波一型潜水艦|''Ha-1'']] (波号第1潜水艦) ''Ha-Gō Dai-1 sensuikan''
****[[:ja:波九型潜水艦|''Ha-9'']] (波号第9潜水艦) ''Ha-Gō Dai-9 sensuikan''
*[[Gunboat]]s&mdash;places of scenic beauty and historic interest
**[[Japanese gunboat Ataka|''Ataka'']] (安宅) ''Ataka-no-Seki'' is a barrier station in [[Kamakura period]]
**[[HMS Moth (1915)|''Suma'']] (須磨) ''[[Suma-ku, Kobe|Suma-no-Ura]]'' is beauty spot in [[Hyōgo Prefecture]]
*[[Kaibokan|Coast defence ship/Escort ship]]s
**Until 30 June 1942&mdash;Island
***[[Japanese escort ship Shimushu|''Shimushu'']] (占守) [[Shumshu]] is one of the [[Kuril Islands]]
**And after 1 July 1942
***Type 'A' and Type 'B' Escort ships&mdash;Island
****[[Etorofu-class escort ship|''Etorofu'']] (択捉) [[Iturup]]
****[[Ukuru-class escort ship|''Okinawa'']] (沖縄) [[Okinawa Island]]
***[[Type C escort ship|Type 'C' escort ship]]s&mdash;Odd numbers from '1'
***[[Type D escort ship|Type 'D' escort ship]]s&mdash;Even numbers from '2'
*[[Submarine tender]]s&mdash;whales
**[[Jingei-class submarine tender|''Jingei'']] (迅鯨) Swift whale
*[[Seaplane tender]]s&mdash;abstract noun, idiomatic word, notable achievement vessels in past war
**[[Japanese aircraft carrier Chitose|''Chitose'']] (千歳) Long life
**[[Japanese seaplane carrier Mizuho|''Mizuho'']] (瑞穂) another name of Japan, ''The Land of Vigorous Rice Plants'' by literal translation
**[[Japanese seaplane carrier Nisshin|''Nisshin'']] (日進) succession to ship name [[Japanese cruiser Nisshin|''Nisshin'']]
**[[Japanese seaplane tender Akitsushima|''Akitsushima'']] (秋津州) succession to ship name [[Japanese cruiser Akitsushima|''Akitsushima'']]
*[[Minelayer]]s
**as warship (fitted [[Imperial Seal of Japan|imperial seal]] on bow)&mdash;Island, islands, ancient battlefield
***[[Japanese minelayer Itsukushima|''Itsukushima'']] (厳島) ancient battlefield of the [[Battle of Miyajima]] (Itsukushima Kassen)
***[[Japanese minelayer Okinoshima|''Okinoshima'']] (沖島) [[Okinoshima, Munakata|Okinoshima]], and battlefield of the [[Battle of Tsushima]]
***[[Japanese minelayer Yaeyama|''Yaeyama'']] (八重山) [[Yaeyama Islands]]
**as mine boat and cable layer&mdash;cape, point, island, islet
***[[Sokuten-class auxiliary minelayer (1913)|''Sokuten'']] (測天) Sokuten Island is one of the island of the [[Penghu]]
***[[Sokuten-class minelayer (1938)|''Shirakami'']] (白神) [[Cape Shirakami]]
**as auxiliary minelayer&mdash;numbered name
***[[No. 1-class auxiliary minelayer|''Auxiliary minelayer No. 1'']] (第1号敷設特務艇)
*[[Netlayer]]s
**as warship (fitted [[Imperial Seal of Japan|imperial seal]] on bow)
***Until 3 June 1943&mdash;put the initial Taka (鷹, hawk) after her name
****[[Japanese minelayer Shirataka|''Shirataka'']] (白鷹) White hawk
***And after 4 June 1943&mdash;birds
****[[Hatsutaka-class minelayer|''Asadori'']] (朝鳥) Birds in morning
**as net laying boat&mdash;birds
***[[Tsubame-class minelayer|''Tsubame'']] (燕) [[Barn swallow]]
*[[Auxiliary ship]]s
**Collier, oiler, icebreaker, freighter, repair ship, self-propelled target ship, munition ship&mdash;cape, point, strait, channel, bay, port
***[[Japanese seaplane carrier Wakamiya|''Wakamiya'']] (若宮) Cape Wakamiya; her first classification was transport ship. Cape Wakamiya (Wakamiya-zaki) is in Wakamiya Island, [[Oki Islands]]
***[[Japanese repair ship Akashi|''Akashi'']] (明石) [[:ja:明石海峡|Akashi Strait]] is water between the [[Akashi, Hyōgo|Akashi]] and [[Awaji Island]]
***[[Muroto-class collier|''Nojima'']] (野島) [[:ja:野島崎|Cape Nojima]] in [[Bōsō Peninsula]]
***[[Japanese fleet oiler Hayasui|''Hayasui'']] (速吸) Hayasui-no-Seto is former name of the [[Hōyo Strait]]
***[[Japanese icebreaker Ōtomari|''Ōtomari'']] (大泊) [[Korsakov (town)|Port of Ōtomari]] in southern [[Sakhalin Island]]
**Minesweeper, landing ship, patrol boat, motor torpedo boat, submarine chaser &mdash; numbered name
***[[No. 1-class minesweeper (1923)|Minesweeper No. 1]] (第1号掃海艇)
***[[No. 1-class landing ship|Landing ship No. 1]] (第1号輸送艦)
***[[No. 1-class patrol boat (1940)|Patrol boat No. 1]] (第1号哨戒艇)
***[[:ja:一号型魚雷艇|Motor torpedo boat No. 1]] (第1号魚雷艇)
***[[No. 1-class submarine chaser|''Submarine chaser No. 1'']] (第1号駆潜艇)
*[[Miscellaneous ship]]s
**Cargo ship, salvage ship&mdash;bridge or station on the arterial road
***[[Japanese submarine tender Komahashi|''Komahashi'']] (駒橋) ''Komahashi-shuku'' is station on [[Kōshū Kaidō]]
***[[Japanese salvage ship Yodohashi|''Yodohashi'']] (淀橋) ''[[:ja:淀橋|Yodohashi bridge]]'' on [[Ōme, Tokyo|Ōme Kaidō]]
**Repair ship&mdash;strait, isthmus
***[[Japanese repair ship Hayase|''Hayase'']] (早瀬) Hayase-no-Seto is water between the [[:ja:倉橋島|Kurahashi Island]] and [[Etajima, Hiroshima|Higashi-Nōmi Island]]
***[[Japanese repair ship Hitonose|''Hitonose'']] (飛渡瀬) Hitonose is isthmus between the [[Etajima]] and [[Etajima, Hiroshima|Nōmi Island]]
**And over 600-ton Salvage ship and tugboat, and after 22 January 1937&mdash;associated name of the naval base (anchorage name, place name, island)
***[[Tategami-class salvage tugboat|''Tategami'']] (立神) ''Tategami anchorage'' in the [[Sasebo Naval District|Sasebo Naval Base]]
***[[Kasashima-class salvage tugboat|''Hashima'']] (波島) Hashima Island is small island in the [[Yokosuka Naval District|Yokosuka Naval Base]]
**Other miscellaneous ships&mdash;numbered name

===Post–World War II===
Prior to the end of World War II Japanese ship names were rendered in [[kanji]]; after the end of the war this tradition was abandoned in favor of [[hiragana]] to separate the perception of the [[Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force|Maritime Self-Defense Force]]s from the old navy.

*[[Helicopter destroyer]]s and [[Helicopter carrier]]s (DDH)&mdash;traditional provinces and mountains
*[[Guided missile destroyer]]s (DDG)&mdash;mountains and weather terms
*Small [[destroyer]]s (DD)&mdash;weather terms
*[[Frigate]]s (DE)(FFM)&mdash;rivers
*[[Submarine]]s (SS)&mdash;ocean currents and legendary auspicious animals
*[[Replenishment oiler]]s (AOE)&mdash;lakes
*[[Amphibious transport dock]]s and [[troopship]]s (LST)&mdash;peninsulas
*[[Minesweepers]] (MSO)&mdash;islands,
*[[Submarine rescue ship]]s (ASR)&mdash;peninsulas
*[[Training Ship]]s (AMS)(ATS)(TV)&mdash;shrines and cities
*[[Icebreakers]] (AGB)&mdash;glaciers and mountains
*[[Cable layer|Cable laying ships]] (ARC)&mdash;cities
*[[Patrol Boats]] (PG)&mdash;[[Bird of prey|birds of prey]]
*[[Research vessels]] (AOS)(AGS)&mdash;cities, regions, traditional provinces, and nouns

== Translated names ==
The English translations of the Japanese warships provide names; the literal translation of the  characters does not necessarily represent how the name is perceived to the Japanese. For example, [[Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi|''Akagi'']] is probably perceived as "red castle" by Japanese about as often as [[USS Philadelphia (CL-41)|Philadelphia]] is perceived as the "city of brotherly love" by Americans.

There is a tendency for translations of Japanese names to be somewhat fanciful. For example, [[Japanese aircraft carrier Shōkaku|''Shōkaku'']] is often translated as "crane flying in heaven", but "flying crane" or "soaring crane" is a more accurate translation. Another fanciful translation is "land of divine mulberry trees" for [[Japanese battleship Fusō|''Fusō'']]—''fuso'' was a Chinese name for a mythical tree supposed to grow to the east, hence an old poetic word for Japan.

In [[World War II]], the composition of the Japanese Navy was a military secret. US Naval Intelligence built up knowledge of enemy ships through photographic reconnaissance, interrogation of prisoners, and signal interception. Inevitably there were mistakes and misinterpretations; some of these have been repeated in post-war accounts that rely on US Navy documents. For example, a prisoner of war after the [[battle of Midway]] reported the existence of an aircraft carrier named ''Hayataka''. This was a misreading of the characters 隼鷹 in [[Kanji#Kun.27yomi .28Japanese reading.29|kun-yomi]], while they in this case are properly read in [[Kanji#On.27yomi .28Chinese reading.29|on-yomi]] as [[Japanese aircraft carrier Junyo|''Jun'yō'']]. Accordingly, many US documents refer to the carrier as ''Hayataka'' or its class as the ''Hayataka'' class.  In another example, when [[Joseph F. Enright]] claimed the sinking of the Japanese Aircraft Carrier ''[[Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano|Shinano]]'', US naval intelligence was originally only willing to credit him with sinking a cruiser; this was in part because they believed the name "Shinano" (derived from intercepted Japanese transmissions) referred to the [[Shinano River]] (thereby denoting a cruiser), when in fact the name referred to the [[Shinano province]] of Japan.  (''Shinano'' had begun construction as a {{Sclass|Yamato|battleship}} and was thus named for a province, before being converted into an aircraft carrier following the [[Battle of Midway]].)

==References==
{{reflist}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19990823225827/http://history.navy.mil/docs/wwii/mid2.htm Interrogation of Japanese Prisoners taken after Midway Action]

=== Bibliography ===
*Monthly Ships of the World, {{cite web |url=http://www.ships-net.co.jp/ |title=Kaijinsha}} (Japan)
**No. 441, ''Special issue Vol. 32, "Japanese cruisers"'', September 1991
**No. 453, ''Special issue Vol. 34, "History of Japanese destroyers"'', July 1992
**No. 469, ''Special issue Vol. 37, "History of Japanese submarines"'', August 1993
**No. 507, ''Special issue Vol. 45, "Escort Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy"'', February 1996
**No. 522, ''Special issue Vol. 47, "Auxiliary Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy"'', March 1997
*Daiji Katagiri, {{nihongo|''Ship Name Chronicles of the Imperial Japanese Navy Combined Fleet''|聯合艦隊軍艦銘銘伝,|Rengōkantai Gunkan Meimeiden}}, Kōjinsha (Japan), June 1988, {{ISBN|4-7698-0386-9}}
*Masahide Asai, {{nihongo|''Ship name examination of the Japanese Navy''|日本海軍 艦船名考,|Nihon Kaigun Kansenmeikou}}, Tōkyō Suikōsha (fringe organization of the [[Ministry of the Navy of Japan|Ministry of the Navy]]), December 1928
*Motoyoshi Hori, {{nihongo|''Destroyer - Technical recollection''|駆逐艦 その技術的回顧,|Kuchikukan, Sono gijutsuteki-kaiko}}, Hara Shobō (Japan), June 1987, {{ISBN|978-4-562-01873-4}}
*Shizuo Fukui, ''Stories of the Japanese aircraft carriers'', Kojinsha, Japan, 1996, {{ISBN|4-7698-06558}}.
*''[[1:700 scale#Water Line Series|1/700 Water Line Series]] Guide book of Imperial Japanese Navy ships'', Shizuoka Plastic Model Manufacturers Association ([[Aoshima Bunka Kyozai]]/[[Tamiya Corporation]]/[[Hasegawa Corporation]]), October 2007
*{{cite web |url=http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/index.html |title=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records (JACAR)}}, [[National Archives of Japan]]
**Reference code: C05110830400, ''[Data in English is under preparation] 官房306号 12．1．22 雑役船の公称番号及船種変更の件''.
**Reference code: C13071953800, ''[Data in English is under preparation] 第13類 艦船（4）''.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Japanese Ship Naming Conventions}}
[[Category:Ships of Japan|Naming conventions]]
[[Category:Ship naming conventions]]
[[Category:Japanese designation systems]]