Japanese naval officer selection and force planning

Was Japanese naval officer school as demanding as Japanese fighter training?

Yes; entry and progression were highly competitive because recruitment was calculated against the Navy's expected future fleet and command needs.

Japan's demanding naval-officer entrance and training system was intended to select a small elite. Recruitment did not expand early enough against projected ships and future command billets. Waiting until hulls existed before enlarging the officer corps left the service chronically short of trained leaders. The same high standards that produced capable individuals could therefore restrict the fleet's ability to grow.