The Japanese Imperial Navy fighter Shiden Kai was salvaged April 8, 2026, after 81 years underwater in southwestern Japan. (Association for Preserving War Heritage of Hokusatsu for Future Generations)
TOKYO — A Japanese fighter that crashed during World War II has been salvaged from waters in southwestern Japan after 81 years.
A Shiden Kai, a fighter of the Japanese Imperial Navy, was retrieved Wednesday from waters about 10 feet deep and about 650 feet offshore of Akune city in Kagoshima prefecture, according to Eisuke Himoto, leader of a local nonprofit organization that salvaged the aircraft.
“It was in a great condition. Much better than we thought,” he said by phone Thursday.
The recovery took about four hours using a large crane to lift the aircraft, which was placed on metal pipes to prevent damage while being raised.
Salvors retrieved the front part of the aircraft, including the cockpit and two wings extending from it, Himoto said. They also recovered propellers that were sunk near the aircraft.
Himoto said he was pleased that the wings, which have the distinct features of a Shiden Kai, were well preserved.
Shiden Kai were produced in the last few months of the war but were expected to turn the tide in Japan’s favor. They were equipped with some of the most advanced technology available in Japan at the time, Himoto said.
The Japanese Imperial Navy fighter Shiden Kai was salvaged April 8, 2026, after 81 years underwater in southwestern Japan. (Association for Preserving War Heritage of Hokusatsu for Future Generations)
Called “George” by the Allied forces, the Shiden Kai was “the best Japanese naval fighter produced in quantity” during the war, according to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum website.
Shiden Kai were equipped with four 20 mm cannons and an automatic flap-extension mechanism, which was preserved on the aircraft that was salvaged Wednesday, Himoto said.
“The aircraft incorporated Japan’s most advanced technology — and all of that technology was concentrated on the wings. It is remarkable that they have survived,” he said.
“I am relieved and thankful” that it was recovered in good condition, he added.
The aircraft salvaged Wednesday crashed after engaging in an aerial battle with American B-29s on April 21, 1945. The pilot, Lt. Yoshishige Hayashi, died in the encounter, according to the organization’s website.
The aircraft, known to area residents, was left underwater until now.
Himoto heard about the fighter three years ago. With some research, he realized it should be preserved.
“Soon, there will be no one to tell stories about the war firsthand,” he said. “We think objects can tell the story to the people directly when they see them.”
The nonprofit hopes to clean up the aircraft and display it in a local museum, although they may consider building one, Himoto said.
“We want to preserve this historical legacy for the future generations,” he said.