Hapalogenys nigripinnis (Schlegel in Temminck and Schlegel, 1843) is redescribed on the basis of a lectotype, five paralectotypes, and non-type specimens. Hapalogenys sennin, new species, is described from type and non-type specimens and is currently known only from parts of southern Japan (except the Ryukyu and Ogasawara Islands). It has long been identified as H. nigripinnis, although lacking a scaled maxilla. The type specimens of H. nigripinnis are all conspecific with the holotype of H. nitensRichardson, 1844, which is regarded as a valid species from the East Asian Shelf and also characterized by a scaled maxilla. Accordingly, H. nigripinnis has priority over H. nitens, including junior synonyms of H. aculeatusNystöm, 1887 and H. guentheriMatsubara, 1933 by having the same characters of H. nigripinnis on the basis of their type specimens.