The Nakajima Aircraft company was Japan's first aircraft manufacturer, and was founded in 1918 by
Chikuhei Nakajima, a naval engineer, and
Seibei Kawanishi, a textile manufacturer, as Nihon Hikoki (Nippon Aircraft). In 1919, the two founders split and Nakajima bought out Nihon Aircraft's factory with tacit help from the
Imperial Japanese Army. The company was renamed Nakajima Aircraft Company in 1919.[1]
Koizumi plant, near
Nishi-Koizumi station. Critically damaged by American bombardment on April 3, 1945. Currently a
Sanyo plant.
After World War II
After
Japan's defeat in World War II, the company was forced to close, as the production and research of aircraft was prohibited by the
Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. This had a severe impact on Nakajima as one of the two largest aircraft manufacturers in Japan; the second was
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). Unlike MHI, Nakajima did not diversify into shipbuilding and general machinery, and so was forced to dissolve into a number of spin-off companies set up by its former managers, engineers, and workers. As a result, leading aeronautical engineers from the company, such as
Ryoichi Nakagawa, helped transform Japan's automobile industry.[1]
Ki-118 - short-range fighter modified from the
Mitsubishi A7M (project only)
Ki-337 - two-seat fighter (project only)
Ki-201 - Karyū (火龍, Fire Dragon) - prototype 1945 Army jet fighter/attack aircraft with strong resemblance to the German
Messerschmitt Me 262, project only
Sakae (栄, Prosperity) - powered both the
Mitsubishi A6MZero, and its own
Nakajima Ki-43Oscar fighters. Known as Type 99 in Army service and NK1 in Navy service
The Nakajima Aircraft company was Japan's first aircraft manufacturer, and was founded in 1918 by
Chikuhei Nakajima, a naval engineer, and
Seibei Kawanishi, a textile manufacturer, as Nihon Hikoki (Nippon Aircraft). In 1919, the two founders split and Nakajima bought out Nihon Aircraft's factory with tacit help from the
Imperial Japanese Army. The company was renamed Nakajima Aircraft Company in 1919.[1]
Koizumi plant, near
Nishi-Koizumi station. Critically damaged by American bombardment on April 3, 1945. Currently a
Sanyo plant.
After World War II
After
Japan's defeat in World War II, the company was forced to close, as the production and research of aircraft was prohibited by the
Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. This had a severe impact on Nakajima as one of the two largest aircraft manufacturers in Japan; the second was
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). Unlike MHI, Nakajima did not diversify into shipbuilding and general machinery, and so was forced to dissolve into a number of spin-off companies set up by its former managers, engineers, and workers. As a result, leading aeronautical engineers from the company, such as
Ryoichi Nakagawa, helped transform Japan's automobile industry.[1]
Ki-118 - short-range fighter modified from the
Mitsubishi A7M (project only)
Ki-337 - two-seat fighter (project only)
Ki-201 - Karyū (火龍, Fire Dragon) - prototype 1945 Army jet fighter/attack aircraft with strong resemblance to the German
Messerschmitt Me 262, project only
Sakae (栄, Prosperity) - powered both the
Mitsubishi A6MZero, and its own
Nakajima Ki-43Oscar fighters. Known as Type 99 in Army service and NK1 in Navy service