Aircraft preservation efforts in Japan are gaining momentum as museums and specialists work to protect aviation heritage. These initiatives aim to pass historical knowledge to future generations. Unlike trains, ships, and automobiles, no aircraft has yet received national cultural property status. Therefore, local governments and museums have taken the lead in preservation.
A key example is the Hayate, the Imperial Japanese Army’s Type 4 fighter, active during the later stages of the Pacific War. The Chiran Peace Museum in Minamikyushu, Kagoshima, displays the only surviving Hayate. In late August, Taizo Nakamura, head of the restoration team, inspected the aircraft while consulting specialists on corrosion prevention. The team decided to apply high-viscosity lubricant to protect the metal parts. They also separated the fuel pump and starter for detailed examination.
The Hayate measures approximately 10 meters long, 11 meters wide, and 3 meters high. About 3,500 units were originally produced. After the war, the aircraft passed from an American civilian to a Japanese museum and then to the local government. The museum has displayed it since 1997. Experts from the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties and the Japan Aeronautic Association have conducted annual inspections since 2017. Their research confirmed that most components remain original.
The Minamikyushu municipal government designated the Hayate as a tangible cultural property in 2020. Only five aircraft-related items have received local recognition, and the Hayate remains the only complete aircraft. Experts highlight that preserving it demonstrates technological achievements and provides educational value.
Japan is also addressing postwar aviation, including the YS-11, the first domestically produced passenger aircraft after World War II. The prototype currently sits outdoors at the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences in Shibayama. Experts recommend relocating it indoors and performing partial restoration. They emphasize that the YS-11 reflects Japan’s postwar technological recovery and domestic manufacturing expertise.
“The Hayate represents peak technology of its era. Preserving it provides tangible insight into Japan’s aviation history,” said Satoshi Yamaki, curator at the Chiran Peace Museum. Similarly, conserving the YS-11 ensures future generations understand postwar achievements. Overall, aircraft preservation efforts demonstrate historical significance and the value of tangible cultural artifacts.
