Takao Maru (高雄丸) was a 4,282-ton Japanese combined cargo vessel/passenger ship built in 1927 by Uraga Dock Company for Osaka Shosen Kaisha.She was originally conceived as a high speed transport for perishable fruits, especially bananas, and had an advanced mechanical ventilation system to cool her cargo hold. She could also accommodate six first-class and 64 third-class passengers.