The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Force Shiden-kai (literally "upgraded Shinden) was developed from the Navy Kyofu seaplane fighter. Replacing the floats of the Kyofu with landing gear and fitting the airframe with the compact but powerful Nakajima "Homare" engine, the IJN fighter went into production in 1943 and provisionally assigned to active units in October 1944. The IJN, however, found a lot left to be desired with the new fighter and it was sent back to the drafting tables, there modifications to the fuselage, main wing positioning and automatic combat flaps were worked out. The finished product was the "Interceptor" Shiden-kai (N1K2-J). The prototype made its maiden flight in January 1945. The surface area of the Shiden-kai's vertical stabilizer was smaller than that of the early production Shinden airframe.

Perhaps the most famous unit to fly the Shiden-kai in combat was the 343rd Naval Flying Group, which on March 19, 1945 engaged a large force of American F6F, F4U, and SB2C aircraft over Matsuyama in Shikoku, shooting down 52 American planes, proving beyond a doubt the superlative qualities of the Shiden-kai.

Crew: One

Wingspan: 11.99m

Length: 9.346m

Height: 3.96m

Weight Fully Loaded: 4,200kg

Engine: Homare-21 rated at 2,000hp at takeoff

Maximum Speed: 594kmh at 5,600m

Fixed Armament: 20mm cannon x 4