Tokyo Express - Name

Name

The original name of the resupply missions was "The Cactus Express" as coined by Allied forces on Guadalcanal, using the codename for the Guadalcanal operation. After the U.S. press began referring to it as the "Tokyo Express," apparently in order to preserve operational security for the codeword "Cactus," Allied forces also began to use that phrase in place of "Cactus Express." The Japanese called the night resupply missions Rat Transportation (鼠輸送, nezumi yusō?), because they took place at night.