After the victorious German operations in Netherlands and Belgium-May 1940- Japanese decided to follow the brand new invention of the Parachut troopers. Japanese Army and Japanese Navy organised their own and separate para troopers units. Most probably the Germans gave help to Japanese in the begining, not only instructions and directions for training but including also operational details of their experience in Eben Emael fight. Military minister and Chieff of Staff H. Toyio signed the establishement of the new unit on December of 1940, few days before the Perl Harbour. in the beginning there were 10 only officers of Army's Air Force under leutenant colonel K. Kawashima who started the training. Although none of them had any experience they started collecting every available info and made courses about the way of training and the technique of the Jumping. They used the pilot's parachuts which have been developed 10 years before. 250 volunteers non commisioned officers were the first training unit. The base was at Hamamatsu, south of Honsou island. For three months they worked in physical education and the scope was to become flexible and in excellent shape, capable to perform light acrobatics so to avoid injuring during the landing-that is why they called them 'Kawashima's Circus'. They trained in close combat using ziou-zitsu and to fight with bayonnetes. Then three more months of jumping taining followed and after they learned how to jump, how to roll, how to land, they started slow slow to make higher and higher jumping, without parachut and then with parachut from 105m tower with parachut tighted with a rope. They trained how to prepare a parachut and the necessary maintenance of it. Then they made at least two trips with airplane in extreme conditions. The pilots tried to make them sick by sudden loops, turning, going up and down ver fast etc. So if anyone inside the plane was feared or felt nausia to be rejected. After this final exam they started to make the real jumping. They made at least 4 traning Jumping. Initially every one solo, then one by one slowly, then one by one very fast and then carrying full equipment. The planes were flew about 4.000 feet high but as they became experienced the height was reduced and they jumped lower and the plane was faster. Target was to jump 10 men in 12 seconds while plane moved no more than 675m. They realized very fast that the pilot's parachut was not suitable and they developed another more suitable one with 8,5m diameter. Slow-slow the number of the parachuters was increased, soldiers were accepted and after 1 year 5 classes have passed the school. Hamamatsu was to small and they moved to Mantzouria firstly but it was too far so they moved again to Niutabarou base at Kiusu island which remain the main parachuter's base till the end of the war. Till January of 1942 the classes 1~5 which had succesfully passed the training made 2 regiments of elite paratroopers, total 1.475 men. Together with 48 airplanes and a company of airport guards they made the 1st Commando Brigade, in Japanese ' Dai 1 Teishin Dan' which was the basic Japanese para unit till autumn of 1944.
Interesting post. Evidently, there is a book from Osprey on the subject called Japanese Paratroops of WW2. See this link Elite 127: Japanese Paratroop Forces WWII by: G Rottman, A Takizawa (Militaria) at Collector Bookstore
Japanese Navy also developed separately 2 units of parachute troopers. They had 12 unit of special forces called 'Kaigun Tokubetsu Rikususentai' Special Naval Landing Forces. 2 of them the 1st and the 3rd was trained as parachute units. these 12 units suppose to be the forces which would be landed first in every attack. The first wave which should undertake the difficult job to secure a space of coast and to occupy the important points so the next waves to have easier mission. Each of this units should have 750~1500 men. The para units had 750 men each. So on September of 1941, the Ministry of Navy affairs decided and ordered that total 1500 men should be trained as parachute special units till end of November. The 'Experimental Research Unit 1001', 26 men under second lieutenant Yamambe undertook this mission. They used the pilot's rescue parachute also, the only available, already more than 10 years old. They accepted volunteers up to 30 years old and the training took place at Navy Artillery School at TakeYiama, Tokyo gulf. 1st class course was 7 days, 2nd class was 10 days and then every course was 14 days. This course consisted of 2 hours of physical education, 1 hour jumping from decks of various heights, 3 hours preparation and maintenance of parachutes and 1 hour lesson about parachute relative subject. Then they made human replicators and through them as paratroopers and then they did 6 jumps. Although due to this area was dangerous because of the climate-strong wind, usually angry sea and stormy weather- which has as result the death of many trainees, on 15 of November 1941, 2 units of ' Yokosuka Tokubetsu Rikusentai' were ready for operations. Every unit was consisting of 1 company of command and 3 companies of riffles and 1 company of anti tank weapons.They used the Type 1 parachutes like the ones Army used.
The IJA was interested in an Airbourne force, they were lightly armed and only one raiding group was formed. Raiding Group (5.575 all ranks) Group HQ. Raiding Brigade Brigade HQ. 2 x Para Battalions 2 x Glider Battalions Raiding Flying Brigade Brigade HQ. Signals Group 2 X Flying Regiments 1 x Glider Regiment
