From 1942, Japanese engineers began to take an active interest in German tanks in general, as well as in their components. By 1943, a large amount of materials was accumulated, which served as a basis for creating their own projects, one of which was the Type 5 Ka-Ri heavy tank destroyer. Its very powerful armament allowed it to hit any American tank, and its thick frontal armor provided reliable protection from most tank destroyers. The presence of such a vehicle would have significantly strengthened Japan's defense potential, but its development began too late. It existed only in blueprints due to the war ending.