Original Item: Only One Available. Now this is a fantastic piece of not only Japanese history, but Aviation History in general! This 12” diameter round bronze plaque commemorates the “Kamikaze”, Tokyo-London World Record Flight of 1937. Kamikaze was a Mitsubishi Ki-15 Karigane airplane, sponsored by the newspaper Asahi Shimbun. It became famous on April 9, 1937, as the first Japanese-built aircraft to fly from Japan to Europe. The flight from Tokyo to London took 51 hours, 17 minutes and 23 seconds and was piloted by Masaaki Iinuma (1912–1941), with Kenji Tsukagoshi (1900–1943) serving as navigator.

The plaque has a small tag on the reverse side which gives a small history of the flight, which we have been unable to fully translate. What we were able to decipher was the date, which corresponds with this flight. After researching more we discovered postcards and images all showing a majority of the Kanji better aiding us in fully identifying this piece.

It is in wonderful condition with all details present. This appears to have been the type of item hung outside due to its durable construction, possibly from outside of a flight school.

A wonderful item that comes more than ready for further research and display.

“Kamikaze”, Tokyo-London World Record Flight, 1937 (Article from “Old Tokyo”):
“For a brief period in 1937, the Mitsubishi Type 97 Ki-15 was the fastest production airplane in the world. It was a high-speed reconnaissance aircraft capable of flying faster and higher than any fighter it would encounter at the time. Fully aerobatic, it could out-maneuver all fighters of the era – if they could catch it at all.

“The second prototype Ki-15 was purchased by the Asashi Shimbun, a large Tokyo newspaper, as a fast press courier plane, and named Kamikaze-go. It flew a record-breaking flight from Tokyo to London for the coronation of King George VI. Its top speed of 300 mph and trouble-free performance impressed the Western world with the abilities of Japanese aviation.

“Although the record flight was meant as a tribute, its flight might have been an embarrassment to the King because the fastest British aircraft in production at the time was an open-cockpit biplane.”

“At 3.30 p.m. on Friday a large welcoming crowd, largely consisting of the Japanese residents in London, who had been waiting since mid-day, saw a characteristically “over-nosed” monoplane coming in from the direction of Paris. Mr. Iinuma, the pilot, made two complete circuits of the aerodrome while two Leopards, bulging with Press photographers, made an abortive attempt to keep up with the machine, both by diving and by cutting off corners. Then he brought it in slowly and carefully to land neatly, with a burst of engine and straight off the glide, in the centre of the available landing area—which was restricted by flagged-off areas populated by various working parties.

“Thus was the ‘goodwill’ flight of Mr. Iinuma and Mr. Tsukagoshi from Tokio to London completed in 94 hours. The effort is of rather unusual interest in that the aircraft and engine were of Japanese manufacture.

“The first section of the flight which was sponsored by the Tokyo Asahi Press commenced from Tokio at 5.12 p.m. on Monday, April 5, and covered 1,400 odd miles to Taihoku, Formosa. In spite of the weather conditions, which were the worst experienced on the whole trip, and average speed of almost 200 m.p.h. was maintained.

“After leaving Hanoi (French Indo-China), the next stop, bad visibility to Vientiane lowered the average a little and it was not until the Baghdad to Athens stage was covered that the average speed for a section exceeded 100 m.p.h.; in this case 1,280 miles was covered in 6 hours 17 mins., a speed of 202 m.p.h. Strong head-winds were encountered while crossing India.

“Last Friday the final European stages were commenced; leaving Athens at 5.40 a.m., Rome was reached at 8.46 a.m.—710 miles at 219 m.p.h. After only 50 minutes the Divine Wind took the air again for Paris, arriving there at 1.33 after having put up an average of 230 m.p.h. for the 730 miles. Finally, at 2.15 on Friday, April 9, Mr. Iinuma took off for Croydon and completed his flight within 75 minutes.”

– Flight, April 15, 1937

“A French newspaper had offered a substantial monetary prize for the first aircraft to fly between Paris and Tokyo within 100 hours. Many aviators had failed in the attempt, including André Japy, the French aviator whose plane crashed into the mountains of Kyūshū on the last leg of his record attempt from Paris to Tokyo.

“The Kamikaze-go, a Mitsubishi Ki-15 Karigane aircraft (registration J-BAAI), sponsored by the newspaper Asahi Shimbun, succeeded where others failed. Flight-time from Tokyo to London took 51 hours, 17 minutes and 23 seconds, piloted by Iinuma Masaaki (1912–1941) with Tsukagoshi Kenji (1900–1943) serving as navigator. The flight was the first Fédération Aéronautique Internationale aviation record to have been won by the Japanese.

“This record flight to Europe made the pilot a national hero, and Iinuma was acclaimed as the ‘Japanese Lindbergh’. Both the pilot and navigator were awarded the Légion d’honneur by the French government.”