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The Space News article Japan’s Interstellar Technologies goes full throttle toward small orbital rocket says:

LOGAN, Utah — Japanese startup Interstellar Technologies is developing the main engine for an orbital rocket designed to carry 100 kilograms and slated to conduct its initial test flight in 2020.

“Our goal this year is to complete component testing for the regeneratively cooled main combustion chamber, turbopump and gas generator, and to perform an integrated firing test in early 2019,” Uematsu Chiharu, project manager for Interstellar Technology’s suborbital Momo rocket, told SpaceNews at the Small Satellite Conference here. “We already have all the key technologies.”

Interstellar Technologies is raising money for its orbital rocket, tentatively called Zero. Japanese investors have contributed “a few million” dollars to date but the firm will need additional funding to begin commercial service in 2021, said Ken Terakawa, structural engineer, for Interstellar Technologies of Hokkaido, Japan.

Will Japan's Interstellar Technologies really call its rocket a "Zero"? Is this a reference to the Mitsubishi A6M Zero?

Interstellar Technologies "Zero"

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    $\begingroup$ Their website says their new rocket is indeed called Zero: istellartech.com/technology_en/zero_en -- it doesn't say that it's named after the A6M but I don't see why it wouldn't be. $\endgroup$
    – Russell Borogove
    Aug 16, 2018 at 17:57
  • $\begingroup$ @RussellBorogove I remember some comments several months ago when you didn't see anything wrong with Elon Musk selling flame throwers in California either :P $\endgroup$
    – uhoh
    Aug 16, 2018 at 18:13
  • $\begingroup$ "Zero" has meanings besides being the American designation for the Mitsubishi A6M. $\endgroup$
    – Hobbes
    Aug 16, 2018 at 19:07
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    $\begingroup$ @Hobbes "Zero" was actually the Japanese designation ("Navy Type 0 carrier fighter") -- it was introduced in the imperial year 2600. The Allies' reporting name was "Zeke". Per WP: In Japan, it was unofficially referred to as both Rei-sen and Zero-sen; Japanese pilots most commonly called it Zero-sen, where sen is the first syllable of sentōki, Japanese for "fighter plane". $\endgroup$
    – Russell Borogove
    Aug 16, 2018 at 19:23
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    $\begingroup$ @RussellBorogove so "...slated to conduct its initial test flight in 2020." may have some relevance. $\endgroup$
    – uhoh
    Aug 17, 2018 at 1:28

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Interstellar Technologies (in Wikipedia) is a Japanese startup based in Hokkaido Japan. They began as a group of rocketry hobbyists and have a 20 year history.

Their website shows "Codename Zero", so it's logical to conclude that while it is currently using "Zero" there may be a different name once it is ready to launch.

Interstellar's current rocket "MoMo" is a 100 km suborbital rocket currently under testing. MoMo-2 failed after lift-off in June 2018. According to Phys.org the initial hypothesis is a problem with a side thruster, which is evident in the second, slow-speed video below after about 01:00.

"Zero" will be "ITAR-free":

All major components are designed in house and manufactured locally. The vehicle is ITAR free. Launch pad is located near our factory allowing for short lead time and launch costs under $5M USD.

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