This article is about the maritime force of Empire of Japan. For the current maritime force of Japan since 1954, see Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. For other uses, see Ministry of the Navy (Japan).
Imperial Japanese Navy
大日本帝國海軍 (Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun)
Ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy
Founded
1868
Disbanded
1945
Country
Empire of Japan
Branch
Combined Fleet
Navy Air Service
Marines
Type
Navy
Role
Naval warfare
Part of
Imperial General Headquarters
Ministry of the Navy
Navy General Staff
Colors
Navy Blue and White
March
Gunkan kōshinkyoku ("Gunkan March")
Anniversaries
27 May
Engagements
Invasion of Taiwan
First Sino-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
World War I
Second Sino-Japanese War
World War II
Commanders
Commander-in-chief
Emperor of Japan
Minister of the Navy
See list
Chief of the Navy General Staff
See list
Insignia
Roundel
Ranks
Ranks of the Imperial Japanese Navy
Aircraft flown
List of aircraft
Military unit
The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: 大日本帝國海軍 Shinjitai: 大日本帝国海軍Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigunⓘ 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or 日本海軍Nippon Kaigun, 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, when it was dissolved following Japan's surrender in World War II. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) was formed between 1952 and 1954 after the dissolution of the IJN.[1]
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the third largest navy in the world by 1920, behind the Royal Navy and the United States Navy (USN).[2] It was supported by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service for aircraft and airstrike operation from the fleet. It was the primary opponent of the Western Allies in the Pacific War.
The origins of the Imperial Japanese Navy go back to early interactions with nations on the Asian continent, beginning in the early medieval period and reaching a peak of activity during the 16th and 17th centuries at a time of cultural exchange with European powers during the Age of Discovery. After two centuries of stagnation during the country's ensuing seclusion policy under the shōgun of the Edo period, Japan's navy was comparatively backward when the country was forced open to trade by American intervention in 1854. This eventually led to the Meiji Restoration. Accompanying the re-ascendance of the Emperor came a period of frantic modernization and industrialization. The navy had several successes, sometimes against much more powerful enemies such as in the Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War, before being largely destroyed in World War II.
^Library of Congress Country Studies, Japan> National Security> Self-Defense Forces> Early Development
^Evans, Kaigun
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Global Information
Empire of Japan