Seiran
Seiran is a Japanese term that is commonly interpreted as meaning “clear sky” or “blue skies,” and it has been used as a name for various things in Japanese history. The best-known use is the Aichi M6A Seiran, a World War II–era submarine-launched floatplane developed for the Imperial Japanese Navy. The aircraft was designed to be carried by submarines of the I-400 class and launched at sea to attack Allied shipping and bases, enabling surprise strikes far from Japan’s shores. It featured a compact, folding-wing design suitable for stowage inside a submarine’s hangar and carried a small offensive payload.
The Seiran program remained largely experimental. Only a limited number of aircraft were built, and a few
Outside of the aircraft’s historical significance, Seiran has appeared as a name in various cultural contexts,