Japan’s World War II Fighter Plane Salvaged After 81 Years in Waters Off Kagoshima Prefecture

The Yomiuri Shimbun

16:55 JST, April 9, 2026

KAGOSHIMA — A Shidenkai fighter plane of the former Imperial Japanese Navy has been salvaged from the waters where it sank off Kagoshima Prefecture toward the end of World War II.

About 400 Shidenkai planes were produced, intended to be a vital element of homeland defense. The nonprofit group that conducted the salvage operation has plans to display the aircraft.

According to the NPO, the salvaged aircraft was piloted by Captain Yoshishige Hayashi — posthumously promoted to major — the leader of the 343rd Air Group’s 407th Squadron.

Hayashi made an emergency landing in the waters off Akune City in the prefecture after a battle with U.S. aircraft. The plane had remained submerged for over 80 years.

The salvage operation took place about 200 meters offshore, lifting up the fuselage with its wings and engine still attached with a crane.