Abstract The monophyly of the tribe Trichopterygini is considered. The currently used Trichopterygini are polyphyletic. The present Trichopterygini are defined by the following autapomorphies: the enlarged metepimeron in both sexes and a pair of triangular expansions on the male abdominal sternum II, and are redescribed mainly based on adult characters. Phylogenetic relationships among the Japanese genera are analyzed cladistically with the inclusion of two European, three Oriental, and one New Zealand genera. Japanese Trichopterygini are composed of 15 genera, of which two are new, one is upgraded from a subgeneric rank, and one is synonymized: Pseudacasis gen. nov., Paratrichopteryx gen. nov., Paralobophora Inoue (upgraded), Lobophorodes Hampson (a senior synonym of Epilobophora Inoue), Lobophora Curtis, Neopachrophilla Inoue, Phthonoloba Warren, Trichopterigia Hampson, Acasis Duponchel, Otoplecta Warren, Esakiopteryx Inoue, Cladara Hulst, Trichopteryx Hübner, Episteira Warren, and Sauris Guenée. Except for Phthonoloba and Lobophorodes, the Japanese genera are classified into four genus-groups: 1, Lobophora genus-group consisting of Lobophora and Neopachrophilla; 2, Trichopteryx genus-group consisting of Cladara, Esakiopteryx, Paralobophora, Paratrichopteryx and Trichopteryx; 3, Acasis genus-group consisting of Acasis, Otoplecta, Pseudacasis and Trichopterigia; 4, Sauris genus-group consisting of Episteira and Sauris. The Japanese genera are also redescribed mainly by the adult characters and a key to them is provided. Brief information on morphology, bionomics, and distribution of the Japanese species are also given together with their genital figures. Two Trichopteryx species, T. miracula Inoue and T. muscigera (Butler), are transferred to the genus Cladara. A new tribe Heterophlebini is established for the genera Carige Walker, Heterophleps Herrich-Schäffer, Naxidia Hampson, Palaeomystis Warren and their relatives. http://zoobank.org/.../726a6c43-3e72-4b9f-b367-27db1aef27e3