Despite the IJN's prowess with carrier aviation, they still built the Yamato-class BBs (ordered in 1937), with the greatest broadside throw-weight of any naval vessel constructed. However, the third of the class, Shinano, ended up built as a CV rather than a BB, and even the 18" guns on the other two could fire an enormous anti-aircraft round (AA Type 3: 1,360 kg (2,998.3 lb)). -
San Shiki (anti-aircraft shell)
BB Yamato - sunk by torpedoes and bombs from USN carrier-based aircraft
BB Musashi - sunk by torpedoes and bombs from USN carrier-based aircraft
CV Shinano - sunk by torpedoes from a USN submarine
E2A: The Japanese film, 'The Great War of Archimedes' is worth a look if you want to explore the tensions between the 'big gun' admirals and the carrier advocates in the IJN. To spoil the ending, the 'big guns' won, resulting in the losses listed above.