# List of cruiser classes of the Imperial Japanese Navy

This is a list of cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy built between 1885 and 1945.

## Armoured cruisers (Sōkō jun'yōkan)

| Ship | Builder | Class and type | Displacement (tons) | Commissioned into IJN | Fate |
| Asama | Armstrong Whitworth, UK | Asama-class armoured cruiser | 9,700 | 18 March 1899 | 30 November 1945; Scrapped |
| Tokiwa | Armstrong Whitworth, UK | Asama-class armoured cruiser | 9,700 | 18 May 1899 | 9 August 1945; destroyed by USN aircraft at Ominato |
| Yakumo | Stettiner Vulcan AG, Germany | Armoured cruiser | 9,646 | 20 June 1900 | 20 July 1946; scrapped |
| Azuma | Saint-Nazaire shipyards, France | Armoured cruiser | 9,307 | 28 July 1900 | 15 February 1944; Scrapped |
| Izumo | Armstrong Whitworth, UK | Izumo-class armoured cruiser | 9,750 | 25 September 1900 | 24 July 1945; destroyed at mooring by USN aircraft at Kure |
| Iwate | Armstrong Whitworth, UK | Izumo-class armoured cruiser | 9,750 | 18 March 1901 | 26 July 1945; destroyed at mooring by USN aircraft at Kure |
| Kasuga | Gio. Ansaldo & C., Italy | Kasuga-class armoured cruiser | 7,680 | 4 January 1904 | 18 July 1945; destroyed at mooring by USN aircraft at Yokosuka |
| Nisshin | Gio. Ansaldo & C., Italy | Kasuga-class armoured cruiser | 7,689 | 7 January 1904 | 18 January 1942; scuttled 1936 |
| Tsukuba | Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan | Tsukuba-class armoured cruiser | 13,750 | 14 January 1907 | 14 January 1917; Accidental explosion |
| Ikoma | Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan | Tsukuba-class armoured cruiser | 13,750 | 28 March 1908 | 20 September 1923; Scrapped |
| Ibuki | Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan | Ibuki-class armoured cruiser | 14,636 | 11 November 1907 | 20 September 1923; Scrapped |
| Aso | La Seyne-sur-Mer, France | Bayan-class armoured cruiser | 7,726 | 30 November 1908 | 1 April 1931; Retired; subsequently expended as target off Izu Oshima |
| Kurama | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Japan | Ibuki-class armoured cruiser | 14,636 | 28 February 1911 | 20 September 1923; Scrapped |
Note that the four Tsukuba and Ibuki class armoured cruisers were re-classed as "battlecruisers" by the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1912.

## Battlecruisers (jun'yōsenkan)

| Ship | Builder | Class and type | Displacement (tons) | Commissioned into IJN | Fate |
| Kongō | Vickers Shipbuilding, Barrow-in-Furness | Kongō-class battlecruiser | 26,230 | 16 August 1913 | 21 November 1944; sunk by USS Sealion in the Formosa Strait |
| Hiei | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Japan | Kongō-class battlecruiser | 26,230 | 4 August 1914 | 13 November 1942; sunk by USN ships and aircraft in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal |
| Haruna | Kawasaki, Kobe | Kongō-class battlecruiser | 26,230 | 19 April 1915 | 28 July 1945; sunk by USN aircraft at Kure |
| Kirishima | Mitsubishi, Nagasaki | Kongō-class battlecruiser | 26,230 | 19 April 1915 | 15 November 1942; sunk by USS Washington in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal |

## Heavy cruisers (jū jun'yōkan)

| Ship | Builder | Class and type | Displacement (tons) | Commissioned into IJN | Fate |
| Furutaka | Mitsubishi, Nagasaki | Furutaka-class heavy cruiser | 9,150 | 31 March 1926 | 12 October 1942; Sunk by USN cruisers, Battle of Cape Esperance |
| Kako | Kawasaki, Kobe | Furutaka-class heavy cruiser | 9,150 | 30 July 1926 | 10 August 1942; Sunk by USS S-44 off New Ireland (island) |
| Aoba | Mitsubishi, Nagasaki | Aoba-class heavy cruiser | 10,822 | 20 September 1927 | 28 July 1945; Sunk by USN aircraft, Kure, raised and scrapped post war. |
| Kinugasa | Kawasaki, Kobe | Aoba-class heavy cruiser | 10,822 | 30 September 1927 | 14 November 1942; Sunk by USN aircraft at Naval Battle of Guadalcanal |
| Myōkō | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Japan | Myōkō-class heavy cruiser | 13,300 | 31 July 1929 | 8 June 1946 ; Scuttled in the Strait of Malacca after surrender to the Royal Navy |
| Nachi | Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan | Myōkō-class heavy cruiser | 13,300 | 28 November 1928 | 5 November 1944; Sunk by USN aircraft at Manila Bay |
| Ashigara | Kawasaki, Kobe | Myōkō-class heavy cruiser | 13,300 | 8 February 1929 | 8 June 1945; Sunk by HMS Trenchant in Bangka Strait |
| Haguro | Mitsubishi, Nagasaki | Myōkō-class heavy cruiser | 13,300 | 25 April 1929 | 16 May 1945; Sunk by Royal Navy at Battle of the Malacca Strait |
| Takao | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Japan | Takao-class heavy cruiser | 15,490 | 31 May 1932 | 29 October 1946; Sunk as a target ship in the Strait of Malacca after surrender to the Royal Navy |
| Atago | Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan | Takao-class heavy cruiser | 15,490 | 30 March 1932 | 23 October 1944; Sunk by USS Darter at in Palawan Passage during the Battle of Leyte Gulf |
| Chōkai | Mitsubishi, Nagasaki | Takao-class heavy cruiser | 15,490 | 30 June 1932 | 25 October 1944; Sunk by USN during Battle off Samar |
| Maya | Kawasaki, Kobe | Takao-class heavy cruiser | 15,490 | 30 June 1932 | 23 October 1944; Sunk by USS Dace at in the Palawan Passage during the Battle of Leyte Gulf |
| Mogami | Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan | Mogami-class heavy cruiser | 13,440 | 28 July 1935 | 25 October 1944; Scuttled after Battle of the Surigao Strait |
| Mikuma | Mitsubishi, Nagasaki | Mogami-class heavy cruiser | 13,440 | 29 August 1935 | 6 June 1942; Sunk by USN aircraft, Battle of Midway |
| Suzuya | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Japan | Mogami-class heavy cruiser | 13,440 | 31 October 1937 | 25 October 1944; Scuttled after Battle off Samar |
| Kumano | Kawasaki, Kobe | Mogami-class heavy cruiser | 13,440 | 31 October 1937 | 25 November 1944; Sunk by USN aircraft at Santa Cruz, Philippines |
| Tone | Mitsubishi, Nagasaki | Tone-class heavy cruiser | 15,200 | 20 November 1938 | 24 July 1945; Sunk at Etajima, Hiroshima, raised and scrapped post war. |
| Chikuma | Mitsubishi, Nagasaki | Tone-class heavy cruiser | 15,200 | 20 May 1939 | 25 October 1944; Sunk at Battle off Samar |

## Protected cruisers (Bōgo jun'yōkan) & unprotected cruisers (Mubōbina jun'yōkan)

| Ship | Builder | Class and type | Displacement (tons) | Commissioned into IJN | Fate |
| Naniwa | Armstrong Whitworth, United Kingdom | Naniwa-class protected cruiser | 3,650 | 1 December 1885 | 12 August 1912; Grounded off coast of Urup, Kurile Islands |
| Takachiho | Armstrong Whitworth, United Kingdom | Naniwa-class protected cruiser | 3,650 | 1 December 1885 | 17 October 1914; Torpedoed during Battle of Tsingtao |
| Unebi | Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde, France | Protected cruiser | 3,615 | October 1886 | December 1886; Vanished in South China Sea |
| Yaeyama | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal | Unprotected cruiser | 1,584 | 15 March 1890 | 1 April 1911; Scrapped |
| Chiyoda | John Brown & Company, United Kingdom | Protected cruiser | 3,615 | 1 January 1891 | 28 February 1927; Expended as target |
| Chishima | Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, France | Unprotected cruiser | 741 | 27 November 1892 | 30 November 1892; Collision with MV Ravenna, Seto Inland Sea |
| Matsushima | Société Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, France | Matsushima-class protected cruiser | 4,217 | 5 April 1892 | 30 April 1908; Accidental explosion, Makung, Pescadores Islands |
| Itsukushima | Société Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, France | Matsushima-class protected cruiser | 4,278 | 3 September 1891 | 12 March 1926; Scrapped |
| Hashidate | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal | Matsushima-class protected cruiser | 4,287 | 26 June 1894 | 1 April 1922; Scrapped in 1927 |
| Yoshino | Armstrong Whitworth, United Kingdom | Protected cruiser | 4,150 | 30 September 1893 | 15 May 1904; Collided with Kasuga, Yellow Sea |
| Akitsushima | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal | Protected cruiser | 3,100 | 31 March 1894 | 27 January 1927; Scrapped |
| Tatsuta | Armstrong Whitworth, United Kingdom | Unprotected cruiser | 650 | 31 July 1894 | 26 March 1926; submarine tender from 1916 to 1926 |
| Izumi | Armstrong Whitworth, United Kingdom | Protected cruiser | 2,920 | 8 January 1895 | 1 April 1912; Scrapped |
| Saien | Stettiner Vulcan AG Germany | Protected cruiser | 2,440 | 16 March 1895 (as prize of war) | 30 November 1904; Mined off Port Arthur |
| Suma | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal | Suma-class protected cruiser | 2,657 | 12 December 1896 | 5 April 1923; Scrapped 1927 |
| Akashi | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal | Suma-class protected cruiser | 2,657 | 30 March 1899 | 1 April 1928; Expended as a target 1930 |
| Chitose | Union Iron Works, United States | Kasagi-class protected cruiser | 4,900 | 1 March 1898 | 1 April 1928; Expended as target off Shikoku in 1931 |
| Kasagi | William Cramp & Sons, United States | Kasagi-class protected cruiser | 4,900 | 24 October 1898 | 8 October 1916; Grounded off Tsugaru Strait |
| Takasago | Armstrong Whitworth, United Kingdom | Protected cruiser | 4,160 | 17 May 1898 | 13 December 1904; Mined off Port Arthur |
| Miyako | Kure Naval Arsenal | Unprotected cruiser | 1,772 | 31 March 1899 | 14 May 1904; naval mine off Port Arthur |
| Chihaya | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal | Unprotected cruiser | 1,238 | 9 September 1901 | 1 September 1929; training hulk to end of World War II |
| Niitaka | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal | Niitaka-class protected cruiser | 3,366 | 27 January 1904 | 26 August 1923; Typhoon off Kamchatka |
| Tsushima | Kure Naval Arsenal | Niitaka-class protected cruiser | 3,366 | 14 February 1904 | 1 April 1939; Sunk off Miura 1944 |
| Otowa | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal | Protected cruiser | 3,000 | 6 September 1904 | 10 August 1917; Grounded off Mie Prefecture |
| Suzuya | Schichau shipyards, Danzig, Germany | Protected cruiser | 3,080 | 20 August 1906 prize of war | 1 April 1913; Scrapped |
| Soya | William Cramp & Sons, United States | Protected cruiser | 6,500 | 9 July 1907 prize of war | 5 April 1916; Returned to Russia |
| Tsugaru | Admiralty Shipyard, Russia | Protected cruiser | 6,932 | 22 August 1908 prize of war | 1 April 1922; Decommissioned; scuttled 1923 |
| Yodo | Kawasaki Yards, Kobe | Yodo-class protected cruiser | 1,250 | 8 April 1908 | 1 April 1940; Decommissioned; scrapped 1945 |
| Mogami | Mitsubishi Yards, Nagasaki | Yodo-class protected cruiser | 1,350 | 16 September 1908 | 1 April 1928; Decommissioned; scrapped 1929 |
| Tone | Sasebo Naval Arsenal | Protected cruiser | 4,900 | 5 May 1910 | 1 April 1931; Expended as a target 1933 |
| Chikuma | Sasebo Naval Arsenal | Chikuma-class protected cruiser | 5,040 | 17 May 1912 | 1 April 1931; expended as target 1935 |
| Hirado | Kawasaki Yards, Kobe | Chikuma-class protected cruiser | 5,040 | 17 June 1912 | 1 April 1940; Decommissioned; scrapped 1947 |
| Yahagi | Mitsubishi Yards, Nagasaki | Chikuma-class protected cruiser | 5,040 | 27 June 1912 | 1 April 1940; Decommissioned; scrapped 1947 |

## Light cruisers (Kei jun'yōkan)

| Ship | Builder | Class and type | Displacement (tons) | Commissioned into IJN | Fate |
| Tatsuta | Sasebo Navy Yard | Tenryū-class light cruiser | 3,948 | 31 May 1919 | 13 March 1944; Sunk by USS Sand Lance east of Hachijojima |
| Tenryū | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal | Tenryū-class light cruiser | 3,948 | 20 November 1919 | 18 December 1942; Sunk by USS Albacore E of Madang |
| Kuma | Sasebo Navy Yard | Kuma-class light cruiser | 5,100 | 31 August 1920 | 10 March 1944; Sunk by HMS Tally-Ho west of Penang |
| Tama | Sasebo Navy Yard | Kuma-class light cruiser | 5,100 | 29 January 1921 | 25 October 1944; Sunk by USS Jallao northeast of Luzon |
| Kiso | Mitsubishi, Nagasaki | Kuma-class light cruiser | 5,100 | 29 January 1921 | 20 March 1944; Sunk by USN aircraft west of Cavite |
| Kitakami | Sasebo Navy Yard | Kuma-class light cruiser | 5,100 | 15 April 1921 | 30 November 1945; scrapped 10 August 1946 – 31 March 1947 |
| Ōi | Kawasaki, Kobe | Kuma-class light cruiser | 5,100 | 10 October 1921 | 19 July 1944; Sunk by USS Flasher south of Hong Kong |
| Nagara | Sasebo Navy Yard | Nagara-class light cruiser | 5,832 | 21 April 1922 | 7 August 1944; Sunk by USS Croaker off Amakusa |
| Natori | Mitsubishi, Nagasaki | Nagara-class light cruiser | 5,832 | 15 September 1922 | 18 August 1944; Sunk by USS Hardhead east of Samar |
| Kinu | Kawasaki, Kobe | Nagara-class light cruiser | 5,832 | 10 November 1922 | 26 October 1944; Sunk by USN aircraft in Sibuyan Sea |
| Yura | Sasebo Navy Yard | Nagara-class light cruiser | 5,832 | 20 March 1923 | 25 October 1942; Scuttled off Savo Island after bombing by USAAF |
| Isuzu | Uraga Dock Company | Nagara-class light cruiser | 5,832 | 15 August 1923 | 7 April 1945; Sunk by USN submarines off Sumbawa |
| Abukuma | Uraga Dock Company | Nagara-class light cruiser | 5,832 | 26 May 1925 | 26 October 1944; Sunk by USAAF aircraft off Negros Island |
| Sendai | Mitsubishi, Nagasaki | Sendai-class light cruiser | 5,195 | 29 April 1924 | 3 November 1943; Sunk by USN cruisers at Empress Augusta Bay |
| Jintsu | Kawasaki, Kobe | Sendai-class light cruiser | 5,195 | 31 July 1925 | 13 July 1943; Sunk by USN cruisers off Kolombangara |
| Naka | Sasebo Navy Yard | Sendai-class light cruiser | 5,195 | 30 November 1925 | 18 February 1944; Sunk by USN aircraft off Truk |
| Yūbari | Sasebo Navy Yard | Yūbari-class light cruiser | 2,840 | 23 July 1923 | 28 April 1944; Sunk by USS Bluegill off Palau |
| Katori | Mitsubishi, Yokohama | Katori-class training cruiser | 5,890 | 20 April 1940 | 18 February 1944; Sunk by USS Iowa off Truk |
| Kashima | Mitsubishi, Yokohama | Katori-class training cruiser | 5,890 | 31 May 1940 | 5 October 1945; Scrapped |
| Kashii | Mitsubishi, Yokohama | Katori-class training cruiser | 5,890 | 15 July 1941 | 20 March 1945; Sunk by USN aircraft, South China Sea |
| Agano | Sasebo Navy Yard | Agano-class light cruiser | 6,650 | 31 October 1942 | 15 February 1944; Sunk by USS Skate north of Truk |
| Noshiro | Mitsubishi, Nagasaki | Agano-class light cruiser | 6,652 | 30 June 1943 | 26 October 1944; Sunk by USN aircraft south of Mindoro |
| Yahagi | Sasebo Navy Yard | Agano-class light cruiser | 6,650 | 29 December 1943 | 7 April 1945; Sunk by USN aircraft south of Kagoshima |
| Sakawa | Sasebo Navy Yard | Agano-class light cruiser | 6,652 | 30 November 1944 | 10 October 1945; war prize to USA, expended at atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll on 2 July 1946 |
| Ōyodo | Kure Naval Arsenal | Ōyodo-class light cruiser | 8,164 | 28 February 1943 | 25 July 1945; Sunk by USN aircraft at Kure |
| Ioshima | Harima Shipyards | Ioshima-class light cruiser | 2,526 | 28 June 1944 | 19 September 1944; Sunk by USS Shad south of Cape Omaezaki |
| Yasoshima | Kiangnan Dockyard, China | Ioshima-class light cruiser | 2,448 | 25 September 1944 | 25 November 1944; Sunk by USN aircraft west of Luzon |