Well, it turns out the Japanese had 53 commercial shipyards, although
only 12 commercial yards built the 1,226 500+ ton ships they produced,
and 5 Navy Yards, which produced most of the 201 warships (BB, CV, CA,
DD, SS) built during the war. No way to check on “ways” at my end of
things, but 17 yards vs 88 yards is a tall order anyway you look at it.

Timothy L. Francis
Historian
Naval Historical Center
email address: Francis.Timothy@nhc.navy.mil
voice: (202) 433-6802

The above remarks are my opinions, not those of the U.S. Navy or the
Department of Defense