Naoshi Kanno is a character from the anime and manga series Drifters, based on the real-life Japanese fighter ace who served in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. In his original life, Kanno was a highly skilled pilot credited with 25 confirmed aerial victories. He was known for his aggressive and unorthodox tactics, such as inventing an anti-large bomber technique that involved flipping his aircraft over and diving vertically onto enemy bombers from above. His plane, a Shiden-Kai, was painted with yellow stripes, earning him the nicknames Yellow Fighter and the Destroyer, the latter due to his rough handling of his aircraft which often caused damage. Despite his combat reputation, Kanno had a thoughtful and literary side; as a schoolboy he wrote tanka poetry and admired the poet Takuboku Ishikawa, and he originally planned to study literature before financial circumstances led him to join the navy. He was considered too valuable a pilot to be used in kamikaze missions, and ultimately disappeared during a mission in August 1945.

In the world of Drifters, Kanno is summoned from the moment of his disappearance into a fantasy realm while still in his fighter plane. He arrives during a battle between the Drifters and the forces of the Black King, just as the Drifters are being attacked by dragons. The dragon attacks remind Kanno of the American bombings of Tokyo, triggering a furious response. He immediately engages the dragons with his aircraft, becoming the Drifters’ aerial combatant. His plane retains its weaponry and functionality, and his piloting skill allows him to match and even overwhelm flying mythical beasts. Over time, Kanno establishes himself as a ruler over the Dog and Cat Tribes, who revere him and his plane as a sky god. His role in the story is primarily that of an independent air support unit, often operating alone but coordinating with the other Drifters when needed.

Personality-wise, Kanno is hot-headed, rebellious, and foul-mouthed, frequently swearing at allies and enemies alike. He is driven by a fierce, almost instinctive combativeness, and his wartime experiences have left him with a deep-seated anger that he channels into fighting. He shows little interest in grand strategy or politics, preferring to act on impulse and take the fight directly to his opponents. His motivations center on destruction of his enemies, particularly those who remind him of the forces that bombed his homeland, and on proving his prowess in the air. He develops no significant emotional bonds beyond a grudging respect for his fellow Drifters as fellow warriors, and he remains a somewhat solitary figure. His development in the series is limited; he does not undergo a profound character arc but instead becomes more entrenched in his role as a sky warrior and tribal leader. His notable abilities are almost entirely tied to his piloting and his aircraft, including aerial combat, bombing, and strafing runs. He has no apparent magical powers, relying on his World War II technology and his natural talent as a pilot.