| The only known photograph of Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Shinano was taken by Ishikawajima Shipyard marine engineer photographic technician Hiroshi Arakawa (???? – ????). Aboard a new tug conducting builder’s trials at the same time as Shinano, he surreptitiously photographed the carrier. The Kempeitai (“Military Police Corps”) had strictly prohibited not only photographs but even possessing a camera, so he destroyed all but 1 print. Shinano was the only major warship never officially photographed during construction. The other photo was taken by a Boeing F-13 (B-29) Superfortress reconnaissance aircraft, but it was from 32,000 feet (9,750 meters) so it contains little detail. Arakawa’s photo is the only known photo to show Shinano in profile. Arakawa gave the photo to his company president after the war; he gave it to Imperial Japanese Navy officer and historian Shizuo Fukui (1913-1993). Fukui shared it with the United Kingdom historian Roger Chesneau, who introduced the photo to western media in 1987. | |
| Image Filename | wwii2166.jpg |
| Image Size | 482.86 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 3000 x 1537 |
| Photographer | Hiroshi Arakawa |
| Photographer Title | Ishikawajima Shipyard |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | November 11, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Tokyo |
| State or Province | Tokyo |
| Country | Japan |
| Archive | Yamato Museum |
| Record Number | PG070856 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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