07/02/2024

Japanese Cipher Machine Green (Not Japanese Enigma)

Japanese cipher machines include RED, ORANGE, PURPLE, JADE, etc. Relatively unknown of the series is GREEN. Some sources say GREEN is a US codename for 3-Shiki Kaejiki (三式換字機), known as the Japanese Enigma, but the picture on the book that seems to be the source of this association shows it is not the GREEN machine as recorded by US cryptanalysts. GREEN is a codename for a cipher machine, 1-Shiki 1-Go Injiki (一式一号印字機), of the Imperial Japanese Army captured at Baguio in the Philippines in May 1945.
I learned all these from Chris Christensen, whose new paper, "The Japanese Green Machine" in Cryptologia is now published online. I believe this is the first detailed account of the real Japanese Green machine.

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