The Japanese Navy did not categorize their carriers like the Western Powers. They had large carriers (fleet carriers by Western standards) and medium carriers (which the Americans did not have). Due to this discrepancy, when comparing how many carriers took part in a specific battle, it is hard to evaluate based on number of carriers alone. Most medium and light Japanese carriers also had smaller aircraft complements when compared to American carriers of similar size. Most Japanese aircraft did not have folding wings, so they could not store the same number of aircraft in the same hangar space. The Japanese fielded 6 Large Carriers, 7 Medium Carriers, 6 Light Carriers, 5 Escort/Transport Carriers and 9 Seaplane Tenders during the Pacific War.
Large Carriers (over 70 aircraft)
- Akagi (1 ship)
- Kaga (1 ship)
- Zuikaku (2 ships)
- Taiho (1 ship)
- Shinano (1 ship)
Medium Carriers (40 to 70 aircraft)
- Soryu (1 ship)
- Hiryu (1 ship)
- Hiyo (2 ships)
- Unryu (3 ships)
Light Carriers (30 to 40 aircraft)
- Zuiho (2 ships)
- Chitose (2 ships)
- Ryuho (1 ship)
- Ryujo (1 ship)
Escort Carriers (20 to 35 aircraft)
- Shinyo (1 ship)
- Taiyo (1 ship)
- Hosho (1 ship)
- Chuyo (2 ships)
Seaplane Tenders (no flight deck)
- Mizuho (1 ship)
- Chitose (2 ships (converted to light carriers))
- Nisshin (1 ship)
- Yamashiro Maru (2 ships)
- Kumano Maru (1 ship)
- Shimane Maru (1 ship completed)
- Akitsu Maru (2 ships)
- Akitsushima (1 ship)