Tappi (龍飛) was Houshou's initial name, after Cape Tappi. Planned as one of six auxiliary ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy's 1918 Eight-Eight Fleet Program, Tappi was designed as a seaplane carrier with flying-off deck. Her design was revised in April 1919 following British WWI combat experience to include a full-length flight deck. She was reclassified as an aircraft carrier with the name Houshou.
