As World War II came to a close, Japan was on the brink of defeat. Allied forces were closing in relentlessly, cities were reduced to rubble from day-in-day-out bombing, and the formerly dominant conventional military tactics were no longer sufficient. In this atmosphere of urgency and desperation, Japanese engineers and military strategists turned to radical and experimental designs, building a series of unorthodox airplanes and weapons in an attempt to turn the tide of the war.
Nakajima Ki-87 – The Dream of High Altitude That Never Took to the Skies
Japanese aeronautical engineers first concentrated on improving fighter planes in order to match the fast-developing Allied aircraft. One of their most successful designs was the Nakajima Ki-84, an agile and dependable fighter that could match its adversaries in the air.
But as bombers started flying so high, there was a call for increasing speed to intercept them at very high altitudes. One such endeavor was the Nakajima Ki-87, with a 2,400-horsepower engine. Unfortunately, engine issues cut it short from being fully produced, and it only had one prototype built.
Tachikawa Ki-94-II – Promises Cut Short by Timing
The Tachikawa Ki-94-II was yet another aggressive attempt at developing a high-speed, high-altitude interceptor. Estimated to fly at 450 mph, it was developed entirely to counter the newest bomber threats. Unfortunately, its maiden flight was planned just after Japan surrendered, demonstrating that even the most innovative concepts can be made obsolete by timing.
Kyushu J7W1 Shinden – A Canard Fighter of the Future
Arguably the most beautiful design of the era was the Kyushu J7W1 Shinden. With its forward-facing elevators and rear-mounted engine, it was unlike any other fighter to be produced. Navy Captain Masaoki Tsuruno saw it as an interceptor for the B-29 and even conceived a jet version for the future. Though it had a calculated speed of over 460 mph, only two were finished when the war finished.
Nakajima Kikka – Japan’s First Jet Aircraft
Japan didn’t end at piston-engine fighters. The Nakajima Kikka, modeled after Germany’s Me 262, was the country’s first jet aircraft. Small, with folding wings to hide it, it powered Ne-20 turbojets reverse-engineered from German plans. Its first flight on August 7, 1945, was just days before the war ended—too late to have an effect, but still a remarkable technological accomplishment.
Mitsubishi J8M (Ki-200) – The Rocket Interceptor That Never Flew
Rocket flight was yet another ambitious course of action. Confronted by bombers at out-of-reach heights, Japan attempted to emulate Germany’s Me 163 Komet. The resulting Navy Mitsubishi J8M and Army Ki-200 were successful in glider flights but crashed during the initial powered flight. Japan’s unexpected surrender saw the project abandoned.
Yokosuka Ohka Model 11 – The Kamikaze Rocket Plane
No Japanese weapon from the late war is more infamous than the Ohka Model 11, a rocket-powered, manned missile designed for suicide attacks. Carried beneath a bomber, it would ignite its rocket on approach to deliver a devastating impact. In practice, however, the slow-moving bombers carrying them were often destroyed before reaching their targets, limiting the weapon’s effectiveness.
Ohka Model 22 – Jet-Powered, Too Late to Matter
The Ohka Model 22 was developed by engineers to enhance performance, with a crude turbojet and from high-speed bombers. Although 50 were produced, none reached combat. Even more grandiose schemes for the Model 33, with high-performance turbojets and larger carriers, never got beyond the drafting stage.
Nakajima Tsurugi – Desperation in the Air
Among Japan’s most radical attempts was the Nakajima Tsurugi, a dedicated suicide plane developed for mass production. Reduced to the bare essentials and constructed using whatever materials were available, it illustrated Japan’s diminishing industrial resources. Fewer than a dozen were finished before Japan surrendered, leaving one as grim proof of how far Japan had gone.
The Legacy of Japan’s Experimental Arsenal
Ultimately, these test weapons were unable to break through the tidal wave of the Allies. Bombing raids, lack of supplies, and a broken industrial base saw many technologies never escape the prototype phase. Still, these aircraft represent an astounding combination of creativity and desperation.
Nowadays, surviving specimens—from the Kyushu Shinden and Nakajima Kikka to the elusive Ohka and Tsurugi—sit in museums, presenting a glimpse of what it was like when technology was stretched to its limits amidst impending defeat. They are not only a testament to war, but to humanity’s creativity in crisis.