Akagi was an aircraft carrier built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN); named after Mount Akagi in present-day Gunma Prefecture. Though she was laid down as an Amagi-class battlecruiser; Akagi was converted to an aircraft carrier while still under construction to comply with the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty. The ship was rebuilt from 1935 to 1938 with her original three flight decks consolidated into a single enlarged flight deck and an island superstructure.

Akagi's aircraft served in the Second Sino-Japanese War in the late 1930s. Upon the formation of the First Air Fleet or Kido Butai (Striking Force) in early 1941; she became its flagship; and remained so for the duration of her service. With other fleet carriers; she took part in the Attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and the invasion of Rabaul in the Southwest Pacific in January 1942. The following month; her aircraft bombed Darwin; Australia; and assisted in the conquest of the Dutch East Indies. In March and April 1942; Akagi's aircraft helped sink a British heavy cruiser and an Australian destroyer in the Indian Ocean Raid.

After a brief refit; Akagi and three other fleet carriers of the Kido Butai participated in the Battle of Midway in June 1942. After bombarding American forces on the atoll; Akagi and the other carriers were attacked by aircraft from Midway and the carriers Enterprise; Hornet; and Yorktown. Dive bombers from Enterprise severely damaged Akagi. When it became obvious she could not be saved; she was scuttled by Japanese destroyers to prevent her from falling into enemy hands. The loss of Akagi and three other IJN carriers at Midway was a crucial strategic defeat for Japan and contributed significantly to the Allies' ultimate victory in the Pacific.