DDG-182 Mirai
Encyclopedia
The JDS
Mirai, DDG-182, is a fictional ship created for the anime
series Zipang
. The central point of the plot of the anime is that the modern warship Mirai is transported back sixty years through time to the year 1942 on the eve of the Battle of Midway
. The ship's weapons alone are enough to change the course of World War II
, but equally potent are the advanced technology and knowledge of future events on board. The name of the ship is a homophone
for the Japanese word meaning "future" and is often the basis of double entendre
s in the anime. (The phrase "Mirai no nipponjin," (みらいの日本人), often repeated in the anime, for example, can mean "Japanese people of the ship Mirai" or "Japanese people in the future.")
, which was created for the story. The fictional ships are essentially an improved version of the very real Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Kongō class
, which is a modification of the United States Navy's
Arleigh Burke class
. All of these ships are equipped with the Aegis combat system
that provides the vessels possessing it the capability to locate, track and target a large number of enemy vessels, aircraft and even missiles at ranges and with accuracy that was unimaginable in World War II
.
Some sources describe the Mirai as a cruiser
rather than a destroyer. This is because a modern guided missile destroyer
is about the size of a World War II light cruiser
(the Mirai is actually longer than the Kuma-class
light cruisers and broader than the Takao-class
heavy cruiser
s.) and, in the context of the story, the WW II era characters misidentify the Mirai as a cruiser. Some sources have picked up this misidentification and reported it as factual.
helicopter and a (fictional) VTOL
armed reconnaissance aircraft, the tilt-wing
MVSA-32J Umidori (Seagull). The availability of aircraft, especially the advanced capabilities of the VTOL Umidori, greatly expands the story lines by giving the characters mobility beyond the confines of the ship.
, was launched in 2005. The Atago class design is approximately nine meters longer and 500 tons heavier than that of the Kongō class, closely resembling the Mirai’s alterations. However, since the manga Zipang
was published in 2000, at the same time as or even before JMSDF had added the improved Kongō’s to their 5-year budget and years before the first keel was laid, it is unlikely that the Mirai was intended to be an Atago-class ship; the resemblance is more likely coincidence resulting from similar operational requirements. An improved "Flight IIA" version of the American Arleigh Burke class also includes a slightly lengthened hull and a hangar for two Seahawk helicopters.
. In the story, it is a twin turboshaft
engine, multi-mission Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
VTOL
tilt-wing armed reconnaissance aircraft deployed aboard the destroyer
Mirai.
The MVSA-32J has two large, five-bladed propellers mounted on nacelles in its wings. The wings both tilt, for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL
), and fold, for storage within the Mirai’s hangar. It appears that its engines are not in the wing nacelles, which are too small and do not have any air intakes. Air intakes and engine exhausts in the lower part of the fuselage indicate that the engines are located there, presumably connected to the propellers by some complicated mechanical linkage. The design of the Umidori appears to be strongly influenced by the V-22 Osprey
.
In the series, the Mirai’s crew refer to the aircraft as the “Seagull” but the characters from 1942 call it the “Umidori.”
, the Mirai used a Tomahawk
cruise missile to destroy the USS Wasp
. The characters specifically identified this as the anti-ship variant and it is visually identical to the Tomahawk missile. Real JMSDF ships do not carry Tomahawks because Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution
forbids offensive weapons of any kind. The use of the Tomahawk in the story suggests that in the near-future universe of Zipang, Japan had changed its policy on offensive weapons.
In episode 14 it is stated that the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow
is capable of traveling at 4900 yards per second. The technical specifications of the Sea Sparrow places its speed between 4200 and 4300km/h, which would be roughly 1300 yards per second.
Japan Defense Ship
Japan Defense Ships are warships of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.-Classification:...
Mirai, DDG-182, is a fictional ship created for the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series Zipang
Zipang (anime)
is a twenty-six episode Japanese anime television series directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi and produced by Studio Deen. It aired on the Tokyo Broadcasting System in Japan from late 2004 to early 2005, and was licensed for release in North America by Geneon Entertainment with DVD release starting in...
. The central point of the plot of the anime is that the modern warship Mirai is transported back sixty years through time to the year 1942 on the eve of the Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
. The ship's weapons alone are enough to change the course of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but equally potent are the advanced technology and knowledge of future events on board. The name of the ship is a homophone
Homophone
A homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but differs in meaning. The words may be spelled the same, such as rose and rose , or differently, such as carat, caret, and carrot, or to, two, and too. Homophones that are spelled the same are also both homographs and homonyms...
for the Japanese word meaning "future" and is often the basis of double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
s in the anime. (The phrase "Mirai no nipponjin," (みらいの日本人), often repeated in the anime, for example, can mean "Japanese people of the ship Mirai" or "Japanese people in the future.")
Class description
The Mirai is a ship of a fictional Yukinami class of destroyerDestroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
, which was created for the story. The fictional ships are essentially an improved version of the very real Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
The , or JMSDF, is the naval branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II....
Kongō class
Kongo class destroyer
The of guided missile destroyers serves as the core ship of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 's Escort Flotillas. They are a modification of the United States Navy's Arleigh Burke class .-Design:...
, which is a modification of the United States Navy's
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Arleigh Burke class
Arleigh Burke class destroyer
The Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers is the United States Navy's first class of destroyer built around the Aegis combat system and the SPY-1D multi-function phased array radar. The class is named for Admiral Arleigh "31-Knot" Burke, the most famous American destroyer officer of...
. All of these ships are equipped with the Aegis combat system
Aegis combat system
The Aegis Combat System is an integrated naval weapons system developed by the Missile and Surface Radar Division of RCA, and now produced by Lockheed Martin...
that provides the vessels possessing it the capability to locate, track and target a large number of enemy vessels, aircraft and even missiles at ranges and with accuracy that was unimaginable in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Some sources describe the Mirai as a cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
rather than a destroyer. This is because a modern guided missile destroyer
Guided missile destroyer
A guided missile destroyer is a destroyer designed to launch guided missiles. Many are also equipped to carry out anti-submarine, anti-air, and anti-surface operations. In the U.S...
is about the size of a World War II light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
(the Mirai is actually longer than the Kuma-class
Kuma class cruiser
-See also:*List of World War II ships...
light cruisers and broader than the Takao-class
Takao class cruiser
- Notes :...
heavy cruiser
Heavy cruiser
The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range, high speed and an armament of naval guns roughly 203mm calibre . The heavy cruiser can be seen as a lineage of ship design from 1915 until 1945, although the term 'heavy cruiser' only came into formal use in 1930...
s.) and, in the context of the story, the WW II era characters misidentify the Mirai as a cruiser. Some sources have picked up this misidentification and reported it as factual.
Differences Between the Mirai and the Kongō class
The major difference between the Mirai and the Kongō is that the fictional ship is ten meters longer, which provides space for an aircraft hangar on the aft part of the ship. Real destroyers of the Kongō class have a helicopter landing pad on the fantail but do not carry any aircraft on board. The hangar on the Mirai allows her to carry a SH-60J SeahawkSH-60 Seahawk
The Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk is a twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission United States Navy helicopter based on the United States Army UH-60 Black Hawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family. The most significant airframe modification is a hinged tail to reduce its footprint aboard ships.The...
helicopter and a (fictional) VTOL
VTOL
A vertical take-off and landing aircraft is one that can hover, take off and land vertically. This classification includes fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters and other aircraft with powered rotors, such as cyclogyros/cyclocopters and tiltrotors...
armed reconnaissance aircraft, the tilt-wing
Tiltwing
A tiltwing aircraft features a wing that is horizontal for conventional forward flight and rotates up for vertical takeoff and landing. It is similar to the tiltrotor design where only the propeller and engine rotate. Tiltwing aircraft are typically fully capable of VTOL operations.The tiltwing...
MVSA-32J Umidori (Seagull). The availability of aircraft, especially the advanced capabilities of the VTOL Umidori, greatly expands the story lines by giving the characters mobility beyond the confines of the ship.
The Mirai and the Atago class
The JMSDF has produced an improved Kongō class which has a helicopter hangar but still does not carry helicopters on board. The first of the new destroyers, named AtagoAtago class destroyer
The is an improved version of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 's Kongō class destroyers. It is a Japanese variant of the United States Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer ....
, was launched in 2005. The Atago class design is approximately nine meters longer and 500 tons heavier than that of the Kongō class, closely resembling the Mirai’s alterations. However, since the manga Zipang
Zipang (manga)
is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Kaiji Kawaguchi. It was first serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Morning magazine from 2000 until 2009, and published in 43 volumes. Its popularity has extended to middle schoolers who enjoy history...
was published in 2000, at the same time as or even before JMSDF had added the improved Kongō’s to their 5-year budget and years before the first keel was laid, it is unlikely that the Mirai was intended to be an Atago-class ship; the resemblance is more likely coincidence resulting from similar operational requirements. An improved "Flight IIA" version of the American Arleigh Burke class also includes a slightly lengthened hull and a hangar for two Seahawk helicopters.
MVSA-32J Umidori (Seagull)
The MVSA-32J Umidori (Seagull in English) is a fictional aircraft created for the anime series ZipangZipang (anime)
is a twenty-six episode Japanese anime television series directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi and produced by Studio Deen. It aired on the Tokyo Broadcasting System in Japan from late 2004 to early 2005, and was licensed for release in North America by Geneon Entertainment with DVD release starting in...
. In the story, it is a twin turboshaft
Turboshaft
A turboshaft engine is a form of gas turbine which is optimized to produce free turbine shaft power, rather than jet thrust...
engine, multi-mission Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
The , or JMSDF, is the naval branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II....
VTOL
VTOL
A vertical take-off and landing aircraft is one that can hover, take off and land vertically. This classification includes fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters and other aircraft with powered rotors, such as cyclogyros/cyclocopters and tiltrotors...
tilt-wing armed reconnaissance aircraft deployed aboard the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
Mirai.
VTOL
A vertical take-off and landing aircraft is one that can hover, take off and land vertically. This classification includes fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters and other aircraft with powered rotors, such as cyclogyros/cyclocopters and tiltrotors...
), and fold, for storage within the Mirai’s hangar. It appears that its engines are not in the wing nacelles, which are too small and do not have any air intakes. Air intakes and engine exhausts in the lower part of the fuselage indicate that the engines are located there, presumably connected to the propellers by some complicated mechanical linkage. The design of the Umidori appears to be strongly influenced by the V-22 Osprey
V-22 Osprey
The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, military, tiltrotor aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing , and short takeoff and landing capability...
.
- Topspeed: 450 kilometres per hour (229.6 kn)
- Armament: one 3-barreled 20mm "Gatling-style" cannon
- Crew: 2, a pilot and a weapon systems operatorWeapon systems officerA Weapon Systems Officer is an air Flight Officer directly involved in all air operations and weapon systems of the fighter in the United States Navy. A Weapon Systems Officer ("WSO", pronounced "wizzo") is an air Flight Officer directly involved in all air operations and weapon systems of the...
(WSO)
In the series, the Mirai’s crew refer to the aircraft as the “Seagull” but the characters from 1942 call it the “Umidori.”
The Tomahawk missile and the Mirai
In episode 22 of ZipangZipang (anime)
is a twenty-six episode Japanese anime television series directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi and produced by Studio Deen. It aired on the Tokyo Broadcasting System in Japan from late 2004 to early 2005, and was licensed for release in North America by Geneon Entertainment with DVD release starting in...
, the Mirai used a Tomahawk
BGM-109 Tomahawk
The Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a surface platform. It has been improved several times and, by way of corporate divestitures...
cruise missile to destroy the USS Wasp
USS Wasp (CV-7)
USS Wasp was a United States Navy aircraft carrier. The eighth Navy ship of that name, she was the sole ship of her class. Built to use up the remaining tonnage allowed to the U.S. for aircraft carriers under the treaties of the time, she was built on a reduced-size version of the Yorktown-class...
. The characters specifically identified this as the anti-ship variant and it is visually identical to the Tomahawk missile. Real JMSDF ships do not carry Tomahawks because Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution
Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution
Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution is a clause in the National Constitution of Japan that prohibits an act of war by the state. The Constitution came into effect on May 3, 1947, immediately following World War II. In its text, the state formally renounces war as a sovereign right and bans...
forbids offensive weapons of any kind. The use of the Tomahawk in the story suggests that in the near-future universe of Zipang, Japan had changed its policy on offensive weapons.
Continuity errors/mistakes
Over the course of the series, several different numbers are stated by the characters as the maximum range of the Mirai’s weapons. Early in the series, it is stated that the maximum range of their weapons is 270 miles (434.5 km). Later, when a Tomahawk is used, its range is stated as 310 miles (498.9 km). This is likely a case of inconsistency in use of nautical and statute miles; 270 nautical miles (500 km) is equal to 310.7 statute miles. The RGM/UGM-109B Tomahawk Anti-Ship Missile (TASM) actually had a range of 450 km, or approximately 281 statute miles and was retired in the early 1990s.In episode 14 it is stated that the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow
RIM-7 Sea Sparrow
RIM-7 Sea Sparrow is a US ship-borne short-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapon system, primarily intended for defense against anti-ship missiles...
is capable of traveling at 4900 yards per second. The technical specifications of the Sea Sparrow places its speed between 4200 and 4300km/h, which would be roughly 1300 yards per second.
See also
- List of fictional ships
- The Final Countdown