Japan
Translations of Japanese Names
World War II
|
|
Imperial Japanese Army Aircraft
- Ki-43 隼 Hayabusa: Peregrine Falcon
- Ki-44 鍾馗 Shoki: Zhong Kui
- Ki-45 屠龍 Toryu: Dragon Killer
- Ki-49 呑龍 Donryu: Dragon Swallower or Storm Dragon
- Ki-61 飛燕 Hien: Swallow or Flying Swallow
- Ki-67 飛龍 Hiryu: Flying Dragon or Blue Dragon
- Ki-84 疾風 Hayate: Gale or Strong Wind
- Ki-105 鳳 Ohtori: Phoenix
- Ki-115 剣 Tsurugi: Sword or Sabre
- Ki-147 イ号 Igo: "No One" ?
- Ki-167 桜弾 Sakura-dan: "Cherry Bullet" ?
- Ki-200 秋水 Shusui: Fall the Water, drawing water from river or lake (a poetic term meaning "Sharp Sword" deriving from the swishing sound swords make)
- Ki-201 火龍 Karyu: Fire Dragon
- Ku-8 真鶴 Manazuru: Crane
Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft
- Wind (Carrier and Seaplane Fighters)
- A7M 烈風 Reppu: Gale, Heavy Wind, Violent Wind, Storm Wind
- A8M 陸風 Rikufu: Land Breeze
- N1K 強風 Kyofu: Strong Wind, Mighty Wind or Gale
- Sukukaze: Cool Breeze
- Thunder and Lightning (Land-based fighters)
- Jinrai: Thunderclap
- J2M 雷電 Raiden: Thunderbolt, Thunder and Lightning
- J4M 閃電 Senden: Flashing Lightning
- J5N 天電 Tenrai: Heavenly Thunder, Thunderbolt in the Sky
- J6K 陣風 Jinpu: Squall, Gale or Gust, Wind of Battlefield
- J7W 震電 Shinden: Magnificent Lightning, Resounding Lightning
- J8M 秋水 Shusui: Fall the Water, drawing water from river or lake (a poetic term meaning "Sharp Sword" deriving from the swishing sound swords make)
- J9M 陸風 Rikufu: Land Breeze
- N1K 紫電 Shiden: Violet Lightning
- Light (Night Fighters)
- J1N1-S 月光 Gekko: Moonlight
- P1Y1-S 白虎 Byakko: White Light
- P1Y2-S 極光 Kyokko: Aurora
- S1A 電光 Denko: Bolt of Light or Lightning Bolt
- Stars (Bombers)
- B7A 流星 Ryusei: Shooting Star, Meteor
- B8A 木星 Mokusei: Jupiter
- D3Y 金星 Myojo: Venus
- D4Y 彗星 Suisei: Comet
- P1Y 銀河 Ginga: Milky Way or Galaxy
- P2Y テンガ Tenga: Milky Way
- Mountains (Attack Bombers)
- B6N 天山 Tenzan: Heavenly Mountain
- G5N 新参 Shinzan: Mountain Recess, Deep Mountain
- G7M 泰山 Taizan: Great Mountain
- G8N 連山 Renzan: Mountain Range, Chain of Mountains
- G10N 富岳 or 富嶽 Fugaku: Mount Fuji
- M6A 晴嵐 Seiran: Mountain Haze or Clear Storm
- M6A1-K 南部山 Nanzan: Southern Mountain
- Tozan: Eastern Mountain
- Blossoms (Special Attack [Shimpu / Kamikaze])
- MXY7 桜花 Ohka: Cherry Blossom
- Navy Special Attacker 梅花 Baika: Plum Blossom
- Navy Special Attack Glider 神龍 Shinryu: ? (only translation I could find: "God Dragon")
- Navy Special Attack Bomber 橘花 Kikka: Orange Blossom
- Navy Suicide Attacker トカ Toka: Wistaria or Wistaria Blossom
- Clouds (Reconnaissance and Seaplanes)
- C6N 彩雲 Saiun: Painted Cloud, Colorful Cloud, Iridescent Cloud
- E15K 紫雲 Shiun: Violet Cloud
- E16A 瑞雲 Zuiun: Auspicious Cloud
- R1Y 青雲 Seiun: Blue Cloud
- R2Y 景雲 Keiun: Beautiful Cloud or Scenic Cloud
- Sky (Transports)
- H8K2-L 晴空 Seiku: Clear Sky, Sunny Sky
- H11K 蒼空 Soku: Blue Sky
- Grasses or Trees (Trainers)
- K9W 楓 Momiji: Maple
- K9W Kouyou: Red Leaf
- K11W 白菊 Shiragiku: White Chrysanthemum
- MXJ1 若草 Wakakusa: Young Grass
- MXY7-K 櫻花 Wakazakura: Young Cherry, Sakura Flower
- MXY8 秋草 Akigusa: Autumn Grass or Autumn Flower
- MXY9 秋火 Shuka: Autumn Fire
- Sea (Land-based Patrol)
- Q1W 東海 Tokai: Eastern Sea
- Q2M 大洋 Taiyo: Ocean
- Q3W 南海 Nankai: South Sea or Southern Sea
Imperial Japanese Army & Navy Engines
- Ha-1 寿 Kotobuki: Congratulation or Longevity
- Ha-5, MK2 瑞星 Zuisei: Holy Star
- Ha-6, MK8 金星 Kinsei: Golden Star
- Ha-25, Ha-35, Ha-115, NK1 栄 Sakae: Prosperity
- Ha-33, Ha-112, MK4 火星 Kasei: Mars
- Ha-45, NK9 誉 Homare: Honor
- Ha-103, NK7 護 Mamoru: Protection
- AE1 アツタ or 熱田 Atsuta: (a shrine in Aichi Prefecture)
- 天風 Tenpu: Heaven Wind?
- GK2 Amakaze: Heavenly Wind
- Shinten: Progress?
- 光 Hikari: Splendor or Light
- セミ Semi: Cicada
- Jimpu: Encampment Wind
- Ha-47, GK4 初風 Hatsukaze: Fresh Wind or First Wind
- Hatakaze: Breeze or Fresh Wind
- Ha-12 神風 Kamikaze: Divine Wind
- Tempu: Heavenly Father
Other Names
- Shitei: ?
- 靖国 Yasukuni: Shrine name (IJN torpedo bomber version of Ki-67)
- 雁 Karigane: Wild Goose
Related Terminology
- 改 KAI, Kaizo: reform, change (used to signify a revised or improved version of an aircraft)
- 甲 Ko: First in rank, from the 10 Stems of the Japanese zodiac;
used to signify the first modification to a basic design; sometimes translated as 'a.'
- 乙 Otsu: Second in rank, from the 10 Stems of the Japanese zodiac;
used to signify the second modification to a basic design; sometimes translated as 'b.'
- 丙 Hei: Third in rank, from the 10 Stems of the Japanese zodiac;
used to signify the third modification to a basic design; sometimes translated as 'c.'
- 丁 Tei: Fourth in rank, from the 10 Stems of the Japanese zodiac;
used to signify the fourth modification to a basic design; sometimes translated as 'd.'
- 戊 Bo: Fifth in rank, from the 10 Stems of the Japanese zodiac;
used to signify the fifth modification to a basic design; sometimes translated as 'e.'
- 己 Ki: Sixth in rank, the 10 Stems of the Japanese zodiac;
used to signify the sixth modification to a basic design.
- 庚 Ko: Seventh in rank, from the 10 Stems of the Japanese zodiac
(note: different character from "first in rank" above); used to signify the seventh modification to a basic design.
- 辛 Shin: Eigth in rank, from the 10 Stems of the Japanese zodiac;
used to signify the eighth modification to a basic design.
- 壬 Jin: Ninth in rank, from the 10 Stems of the Japanese zodiac;
used to signify the ninth modification to a basic design.
- 癸 Ki: Tenth in rank, from the 10 Stems of the Japanese zodiac
(note: different character from "sixth in rank" above); used to signify the tenth modification to a basic design.
© 1997-2013, Robert Beechy
http://www.hud607.fire.prohosting.com/uncommon/reference/japan/names.html
Originally posted 1998
Modified: 02/12/2013
