Artillery of Japan facts for kids

This old Japanese drawing from the 16th century shows how a special type of cannon worked.

Artillery means large guns, like cannons, used in warfare. In Japan, people started using artillery as early as the 13th century. However, it wasn't used very much until the 16th century, during a time called the Sengoku period. This was a period of many wars in Japan.

The History of Japanese Artillery

Early Use of Cannons

For a long time, Japan did not use cannons as much as other countries. But things began to change in the 1840s. The Japanese government at the time, called the Tokugawa shogunate, started to worry. They thought that powerful countries like Britain or France might attack Japan.

Modernizing Japan's Guns

Takashima Shuhan showed off Western cannons to important leaders in 1841.

A smart leader named Takashima Shuhan (1798-1866) asked the shogun to buy Western firearms. In 1841, he put on a big show. He demonstrated how powerful Western cannons were. Everyone was very impressed.

However, some powerful leaders in the government did not want things to change. They liked the old ways. So, they tried to stop Japan from getting new weapons.

Learning from Battles

In 1864, there was a battle called the Bombardment of Shimonoseki. During this fight, European ships used their big naval guns. These guns were much better than the Japanese cannons on shore. This battle showed Japan that it needed to update its weapons.

British soldiers taking a Japanese cannon during the 1864 battle.

After this, Japan decided to become a stronger country. They had a new goal: "Rich country, strong army." This meant they wanted to make Japan wealthy and build a powerful military. This led to Japan buying and making many new weapons.

Artillery in the Imperial Japanese Army

Army Cannons in Early Wars

The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) was Japan's main army. They used artillery in their wars. For example, they used cannons during the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895). This war was fought against China.

Cannons were also very important in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905. This was a big war against Russia.

World War II Artillery

Before and during World War II, the Japanese Army used many different types of artillery. These included various cannons and howitzers.

Artillery in the Imperial Japanese Navy

The Japanese warship Matsushima used a very large 320mm cannon.

The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) was Japan's navy. They built very large cannons for their warships. These naval guns were some of the biggest in the world at the time. For example, the Japanese cruiser Matsushima had a huge 320mm Canet gun.

Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) Artillery Today

Today, Japan has the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF). This is Japan's modern military. They use advanced artillery that can move on its own. These are called self-propelled artillery.

Some of the self-propelled artillery used by the JSDF include:

• Type 75 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
• M110 howitzer
• M270 MLRS
• Type 99 155 mm self-propelled howitzer

Related pages

• List of field guns
• List of heavy mortars
• List of howitzers

• Evans, David C and Mark Peattie. (1997). Kaigun: strategy, tactics, and technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887–1941 Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland ISBN: 0-87021-192-7

Images for kids

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  A 16th-century swivel breech-loading Japanese cannon, called an Ōzutsu (大筒, "Big Pipe").

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  A breech-loading swivel gun from the Sengoku period. This gun was likely made in Portuguese Goa, India. It was used by the famous Christian daimyo Ōtomo Sōrin. It has a 95mm wide barrel and is 2880mm long.

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  A bronze hand cannon that is thought to have come from China.

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  A Japanese artillery unit at the Koishikawa arsenal in Tokyo, in 1882. Photographed by Hugues Krafft.

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  Japan's main heavy artillery unit during the Second World War, the Type 89 15 cm Cannon.

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  The Model 96 (1936) 15cm howitzer.

See also

In Spanish: Artillería de Japón para niños