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Hmm. Not as much as a mystery this one is. The reporter, a Mr. Stanley Johnston, who placed the story was on board the USS Lexington at the Battle of the Coral Sea and most likely saw this dispatch sent to the ship:

CINC PACIFIC FLEET ESTIMATE MIDWAY FORCE ORGANIZATION X STRIKING FORCE 4 CARRIERS (AKAGI KAGA HIRYU SORYU) 2 KIRISHIMAS 2 TONE CLASS CRUISERS 12 DESTROYERS SCREEN AND PLANE GUARD X SUPPORT FORCE 1 DV OR XCV2 KIRISHIMAS 4 MOGAMIS 1 ATAGO 1 ? BD SCREEN XX OCCUPATION FORCE 1 TAKAO 1-2 MYOKOS (QUESTION) 1 CHITOSE 1 CHITOYODA 2-4 KAMIKAWA MARU 4-6 AK 8-12 AP 12 DESTROYERS X APPROXIMATELY 16 SS RECONNAISANCE AND SCOUTING MISSION MID PACIFIC-HAWAIIAN ISLANDS AREA.

Here is the story he placed. Note the similarities:

The various forces were made up aqpproximately as follows, according to navy information here:
THE STRIKING FORCE: Four aircraft carriers, the Akaga and Kaga of 26,900 tons each, and the Hiryu and Soryu of 10,000 tons each; 2 battleships of the Kirishima class - 29,300 tons with 14 inch guns; 2 cruisers of the Tone class - new 8,500 ton 6.1 inch gun ships; 12 destoyers.
Support Force Listed.
THE SUPPORT FORCE: One aircraft carrier of the Ryuzyo class, 7,100 tons; 2 Kirishima class battleships; 4 new 8,500 ton cruisers of the Mogami class, including the Mogami, Mikuma, Suzuya and Kumano - with 15 guns of 6.1 inch caliber; 1 light cruiser; 10 destroyers.
THE OCCUPATION FORCE: four cruisers - the Chakas, Myoko, Hitore, and Choda, all believed of 3,500 tons with main batteries of 6.1 inch guns; 2 armored transports of the Kunikisima Maru class - converted liners; 4 to 6 troopships; 8 to 12 supply vessels; 12 destroyers; 10 submarines.

While it is clear from the detail that he was using a book detailing Japanese naval ships (probably Jane's Fighting Ships), he had to have something more than just that to compose this story with such accuracy.