The Kawanishi Aircraft Company (川西航空機, Kawanishi kōkūki) was a Japanese aircraft manufacturer[1] active during World War II.

The company was founded as Kawanishi Engineering Works in 1920 in Hyōgo Prefecture as an outgrowth of the Kawanishi conglomerate, which had been funding the Nakajima Aircraft Company.

(Japan Aviation Co. Ltd) in 1923, designing and building several aircraft for the airline's use.

It was forced by the Japanese government to shut down Nippon Koku in 1929, however, with its routes being transferred to the government-owned Nippon Koku Yuso K.K.

[7] After Japan's defeat, the company was reborn as Shin Meiwa Industries (later ShinMaywa), and continued to create flying boats such as the PS-1 and US-2.