Japan: Advertising poster for the Japan Mail Steamship Company (1940). 'Three new sister ships' were launched just before the outbreak of World War II in the Pacific

The Nitta Maru was a Japanese ocean liner owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha. The ship was built in 1938-1940 by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. at Nagasaki, Japan. The vessel's pre-war design anticipated passenger service; but when work was completed, the onset of war had created somewhat different priorities. The vessel was created as a sister ship of the Yawata Maru, and the Kasuga Maru. Each in succession was re-fitted as a troopship; and each was later converted to an aircraft carrier. In 1941, Kasuga Maru was re-commissioned as the Japanese aircraft carrier Taiyō and in 1942, the Yawata Maru was recommissioned as the Japanese aircraft carrier Unyō. In November 1942, the Nitta Maru was recommissioned as the Japanese aircraft carrier Chūyō.

None of the 'Three Sisters' survived the war. The Chuyo was torpedoed and sunk on 4 December, 1943, with the loss of about 1,250 lives. The Taiyo was torpedoed and sunk off Cape Bolinao, Philippines, on 18 August, 1944, with only 26 survivors. The Unyo was torpedoed and sunk on 17 September, 1944, with the loss of approximately 240 lives.

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