Shortly after the end of the First World War, the Japanese showed an interest in armored weapons and tanks. They procured a variety of models from foreign armies. These models included the British Mk IV tank, six medium Mark A tanks and especially 17 Renault FT-17 tanks later called Ko-Gata Sensha or Type A tank. These were bought in 1919 and they were handed over to the cavalry who were impressed and asked for more units. In 1922, the Imperial Army decided that only the infantry would have tanks, so they were transferred. In 1929, several were deployed in Manchuria where they participated in several engagements against the Chinese forces. In 1932, on the other hand, they began to be surpassed and they were replaced by new models. Those remaining were transferred to the Imperial Army tank school.
During World War II, the kind of fighting led by the Japanese from island to island meant that they did not believe much in the effectiveness of the tank and they did not participate or little in the fighting, being overwhelmed anyway by their opponents.
The Japanese copies were either armed with a 37mm SA18 cannon or a Japanese machine gun.