Could Japan release home-defense aircraft for Tan No. 2?

If Japan was saving aircraft for home-island defense, could some have been released for Operation Tan No. 2?

Yes; a serious attempt to disable American carriers could itself be considered home-island defense because it might delay an invasion.

Japan still retained army and navy aircraft in 1945, but many were being preserved for kamikaze attacks against an invasion of the home islands. That reserve policy did not automatically rule out a larger strike under Operation Tan No. 2. Damaging the American carrier fleet could delay the invasion threat and therefore serve the same defensive purpose. The real issue was whether Japanese planners would reallocate scarce aircraft from a direct homeland battle to a risky long-range attempt to buy time.