Some Oppama History

The northernmost district of Yokosuka City, which borders Yokohama City is called "Oppama" (追浜).  It is place with an interesting history.  During the early 20th Century, the coastal area of Oppama was developed into a large air base for the Imperial Navy -- it became the birthplace of Japanese naval aviation.  Its official name was: "Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal".  After World War II, the airfield and facilities were taken over by U.S. Occupation Forces, and it was renamed Naval Air Station Oppama.  Following the Korean War, in the late-1950s, NAS Oppama was closed down and returned to the Government of Japan.  A few years later, in 1961, Nissan Automobile Corporation built a large factory on former air base land -- "Nissan Oppama" became a large part of Yokosuka's economy, with several thousand employees, and many other smaller supporting businesses & subcontractors.  Oppama train station is on the Keihin Kyuko line, just a few stops from Yokosuka Chuo station.  Nearby and stretching away from Oppama station is a large & vibrant traditional shopping street ("shoten-gai" 商店街) filled with small businesses, retailers, restaurants, etc.  Oppama also is the site of a popular summer festival and occasional night bazaars.

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追浜の歴史１ - すまい造りの佐野工務店 | 横須賀市追浜の工務店すまい造りの佐野工務店 | 横須賀市追浜の工務店

We spoke with Takeshi Aoki, who published 'A Tour of Oppama’s History' and served as the director of the Oppama Administrative Center in Yokosuka City. He is currently active as the head of the 'Aoki Juku,' organized by the Kanagawa Shimbun, to learn about the changes in the town of Oppama.

Tracing its history, Oppama is a treasure trove. Long ago, the coastline of Kanazawa and Oppama, with Nojima, Natsushima, and Eboshijima islands, was said to have been very scenic. Natsushima was inhabited by ancient Jomon people around 9,500 years ago, and the Natsushima Shell Mound, now a nationally designated historic site, still exists there. 

The beaches around Natsushima are where, a century ago, an Imperial Navy captain flew a French-made seaplane. Less known, but just before the Nissan Oppama Factory, the oldest ritual site called the 'Natagiri Ruins,' featuring a rare ox skull used for rain-making ceremonies during the Kofun period, has been discovered intact.

In the Muromachi period, the construction of temples began, and Nōei-ji Temple was founded in the first year of Ōei (1394). Behind Nōei-ji Temple is the Enokido Yokoana group from the Nara period, and the artifacts excavated there are displayed at the temple. Additionally, Jitoku-ji Temple was founded in the 14th year of Ōei (1406), and Hōfuku-ji Temple was also established around the time of the Ōnin War in the 2nd year of Bunmei (1470).

In the late Edo period, in the 6th year of Kaei (1853), the U.S. Perry Expedition anchored off Natsushima and even landed on the island to collect flora and fauna. At this time, Commodore Perry surveyed Yokosuka Bay and named Sasukehana Bay and Natsushima as Webster Island. 

Upon returning to America, having observed the skillfulness of the Japanese, he predicted that if the country ended its isolation and opened up, introducing technical expertise, Japan would become a nation capable of competing with Western countries in manufacturing in the future. With the advent of the Meiji era and the advancement of modernization, Perry's prediction was precisely realized, symbolized by the old Yokosuka Naval Air Corps and the Naval Aviation Arsenal in Oppama.

SUKARIN

 Japan is famous around the world for its "soft power" and producing lots of comics (manga -- 漫画) and cartoons (anime -- アニメ).  In keeping with its imaginative & visual artistic culture, some Japanese agencies, groups, or businesses produce what are called "mascot characters" (マスコットキャラクター) as cute and approachable representatives of their organizations.  Like the masked & costumed actors at Disneyland, a mascot character is a cute, quirky figure created to represent a place, event, organization, or company -- usually to promote local pride, tourism, or branding. They are designed with simple, endearing features and often embody regional culture, history, or products.  The mascots embody the spirit of their region, acting as approachable ambassadors that connect people emotionally to a place or brand.  Of note, Yokosuka City Government has its own mascot character called: "SUKARIN" (スカリン -- see image below).  SUKARIN was created back in 2007 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the city.  The design was chosen through a public contest.  It is said to be a fairy that came from the sea and its gender is unknown.  The name comes from a combination of Yokosuka (SUKA) and marine/sea (RIN).  SUKARIN's blue color is inspired by the sea of Yokosuka harbor -- and it wears a small sailboat as a hat.  SUKARIN is used and displayed in support of many activities, publications, and events in Yokosuka. 

Growth Through Landfill

日本財団図書館（電子図書館）　美しい都市景観の形成に関する研究

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History of Urban Development

Expansion of the city area through reclamation projects

　Summarizing the changes in reclamation projects in Yokosuka City, the following characteristics can be observed.

== Reclamation projects in the central Yokosuka area, starting with the construction of the Yokosuka Ironworks (Shipyard)

In 1865, the Tokugawa Shogunate built the Yokosuka Iron Works (later the "Yokosuka Naval Arsenal") in Yokosuka Village (the present-day Honcho area) as a facility for the construction and repair of warships.  Along with this, land reclamation work was carried out on the three bays of Sanga-ho, Hakusen, and Uchiura, which make up the current Yokosuka main harbor area.

Subsequent land reclamation shifted to the current Yokosuka New Port side, gradually extending eastward from Ōtaki Town.  As a result, Ōtaki Town (1867), Shiodome Town (1869), Minato Town (1871), Ogawa Town (1878), Wakamatsu Town (1879), Yonegahama (1889), Yasuura Town (1922), and Miharu Town (1930) were created through reclamation.  Most of the reclaimed areas during this period were inland from the present Route 16, and they now form the central part of the city.  (The years in parentheses indicate the completion year)

Furthermore, in 1929, land reclamation further seaward from Wakamatsu Town, Yonegahama, and Yasura Town began, and in 1931, the vast Hinode Town (about 18 hectares) was established.

== Reclamation of Kurihama Bay Associated with the Construction of a Thermal Power Plant

   In connection with the construction of a thermal power plant (Tokyo Electric Power Company), land reclamation off Sendagasaki in Kurihama Bay began in 1957 and the reclamation work was completed in 1973.  In addition, the reclamation of Kurihama Port adjacent to the power plant was carried out at the same time (reclamation completed in 1965).

== Large-scale land reclamation projects that began in the 1960s

(a) Reclamation of Ōtsu and Mabori Beach

The reclamation work at Ōtsu and Mabori was completed in 1969, covering about 68.3 hectares.  The coastal area, once bustling with beachgoers, was transformed into a residential development.

(b) Reclamation of the waterfront area of Oppama Industrial Complex

In 1969, the reclamation of the waterfront area of the Oppama Industrial Complex (off Natsushima) began, and by 1985, reclamation projects had been carried out for (Sumitomo) shipyard land (completed in 1972), and land for Nissan Motor's transportation and storage facilities (completed in 1982), among others.

(c) Construction of Yokosuka New Port

In 1965, in connection with the national Second Five-Year Port Development Plan, the construction of Yokosuka New Port began, accompanied by land reclamation work.  The new port was planned as a cargo ship base surpassing both Nagaura and Kurihama ports, and involved the reclamation of Ogawa Port and the construction of new piers.  The port facilities of the new port, completed in 1975, include five berths, cargo handling areas, and open storage yards.

The reclaimed land of Ogawa Port, carried out as a city-led project (completed in 1971), involved the city's development of city blocks.  Between 1972 and 1981, high-rise apartments of around ten stories and office buildings for companies were constructed one after another.

(d) Land Reclamation Project in the Yasuura Area - Construction of "Yokosuka Seaside New Town"

From 1980 to 1992, a land reclamation project was carried out in the Yasuura area, creating approximately 61 hectares of land.

The reclaimed land was named Heisei Town, and the development of "Yokosuka Seaside New Town" is was undertaken.  This new town was created with medium- to high-rise residential buildings in the central area, surrounded by commercial facilities, cultural and sports facilities, and office buildings.

Under the above plans, land sales in the new town began in 1994, and town development included, as basic facilities, symbolic green spaces such as the “Seaside Fishing Park” and “Umikaze Park,” as well as coastal roads such as “Yokosuka Kaigan Street” (Beach Boulevard).

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== Summary of the Expansion of City Area through Reclamation Projects

The history and overview of reclamation projects in Yokosuka City can be summarized as follows:

  -- The history of reclamation along the coast of Yokosuka City is long.  By the late Edo period, reclamation work had already been carried out in the area of present-day Yokosuka Main Port associated with the construction of the Yokosuka Iron Works.  Subsequently, the reclaimed land gradually expanded southward from the Yokosuka Iron Works, and by the early Showa period, reclamation had extended to the area around present-day Miharu Town.

  -- In the postwar period, large-scale land reclamation was carried out along coastal areas other than the Yokosuka Honcho district.  A representative example of this is the reclamation associated with the construction of the Kurihama Thermal Power Plant (1957–1965).  Furthermore, in the 1960s, reclamation projects began at Otsu and Mabori coasts, as well as in the area that is now the Oppama Industrial Complex, marking the full-scale start of large-scale reclamation.

  -- In recent years, a notable example is the reclamation in Heisei-cho, where the construction of the "Yokosuka Seaside New Town," a mixed-use development featuring waterfront parks, residential facilities, and cultural and commercial facilities, is currently ongoing.

Tenjin Island

Tenjin Island is an island located in the Sajima area of Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture.  It is situated near the entrance of Otawa Bay, which is part of Sagami Bay.

Located on the west coast of the Miura Peninsula at the entrance of Otawa Bay, it is a small island with a circumference of about 1 kilometer.  The Tenmangu Shrine on the island attracted the faith of local residents, making it difficult for human interference, so rich nature remains from the coastline to the central part of the island.

In 1953 (Showa 28), the Hama-yu (Hamaomoto) lily plant, found on Tenjin Island was designated a natural monument of Kanagawa Prefecture as the northern limit of its natural distribution.  Furthermore, in 1965 (Showa 40), part of Tenjin Island and Kasashima, along with the surrounding waters, were designated as a scenic spot and natural monument, and since the following year, the Tenjin Island Marine Nature Education Museum has been managing it.

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Tenjinjima Coastal Nature Education Park is located on the west coast of the Miura Peninsula, facing Sagami Bay.  The park, blessed with a natural environment, is home to many coastal plants and animals and is one of the few natural coastlines remaining on the Miura Peninsula.  Tenjinjima, Kasajima, and the surrounding sea area (about 54 hectares) are designated as a natural monument of Kanagawa Prefecture because they mark the northern limit of the distribution of Hamaomoto (Hama-yu), a southern beach lily plant.

Tenjinjima Marine Biological Garden ｜ YOKOSUKA ROUTE MUSEUM

Godzilla's Footprint --- Tatara Beach

‘Godzilla’ history returns to Yokosuka | Stripes Japan

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Take a small trip back to the giant world of the first-generation Godzilla at the Tatarahama Observation Platform, rededicated by Toho Studios and the Kanagawa Prefecture Yokosuka Civil Engineering Office at Kannonzaki on April 25, 2025. 

Yokosuka Naval Base is where the late, great Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima trained during World War II. Yokosuka City is home to the Godzilla Slide at Kurihama Flower World and also the point where “Shodai Gojira” (First Generation Godzilla) sets foot on the mainland in his 1954 debut. 

Godzilla’s footprint, located along the Uraga Channel of Tokyo Bay is not far from the Yokosuka Museum of Art, around the corner from the Kannonzaki Lighthouse and adjacent to the Kannonzaki Nature Museum with a bayside restaurant, serving local food and drinks. Way back in 1958, a then Tyrannosaur-like slide was constructed by Shigeo Kimura, president of the Kannonzaki Tourist Association for kids to enjoy at Tatarahama Beach. Before the area was even a prefectural park, it affectionately became known as the Godzilla slide.  

In 1973, sea air withered away at the popular, concrete slide and the attraction was destroyed. 

A one-tenth scaled footprint of Godzilla remained there for years, which led the Yokosuka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Youth Division in 1995 to fuel their own Godzilla major slide revival, completed in 1999 at Kurihama.   

The puny impression of Godzilla’s footprint at Tatarahama was taken away this past April and now closely matches the grandeur of the 50-meter-high, 20,000 metric ton movie star from the 1954 epic.

The footprint authorized and supervised by the Godzilla Room of Toho Co., designed and constructed by Toho Visual Art Co. is a low-rise bench in the shape of the King of Monster’s foot and four toes. The location is complimented by adjoining seats to take a break and enjoy ocean breezes above the monumental shoreline.

Kannonzaki Park’s official website and an onsite marker describe the project as a movement and opportunity “to express our gratitude to Godzilla, who has been loved in this area for so many years. We also installed a monument of Godzilla’s footprint to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Godzilla’s birth.” 

It is appropriate that the locale which first housed a Godzilla slide, entertained countless children and families is now an official, permanent Godzilla area for generations of kaiju maniacs to treasure.

Safety Analyst and unabashed collector, Helmi Abdat from Melbourne, Australia visited the park prior to the reformation said, “It was a really nice experience to be at the spot where Godzilla first landed. The waves and location were so serene. I cannot wait to see the renovated, iconic place for tourists and Godzilla fans alike.”   

Whether it’s a stroll along the Kannonzaki shore, or a deeper dive into Godzilla historic culture, the observation platform is a convenient day trip from Tokyo, reachable by train, bus, taxi, or automobile via the Yokohama Yokosuka expressway. 

Take a kaiju load off this summer and imagine the first-gen king as he headed northeastward towards Tokyo on his first sojourn of destruction, just one of the multitudes of things to see and do in Yokosuka, the birthplace of the Empire of Japan.

Yokosuka and Cyber-defense

Naval port Yokosuka transforms into cyberdefense talent hub - Nikkei Asia

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The city of Yokosuka, home to Japan's largest naval base, is becoming a center for training cyberdefense personnel in an effort that brings together the Self-Defense Forces, the U.S. military and the private sector.

The Ground Self-Defense Force's System and Signal/Cyber School, located in the city, was recently reorganized and renamed to reflect its cyber focus. It provides specialized training to around 130 students a year.

"We must use all means at our disposal, including the cyber-related organizations in Yokosuka, to strengthen our cyberdefense capabilities," then-Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said on a March 2024 visit to the school. The urgency of the situation was underscored that year by news of a cyberattack that hit the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and resulted in data leaks.

In addition to the Maritime Self-Defense Force's fleet, the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet is based in Yokosuka.

The city is also home to the National Defense Academy, which educates SDF officers, and the GSDF's High Technical School. The academy added a cyber department in 2024, while the technical school created a specialized course on the topic in 2021.

On the private-sector side, Yokosuka Research Park includes research facilities for such telecommunications companies as NTT and KDDI. Software developer FFRI Security has an R&D center there as well.

Former defense officials and others established an association in December 2023 that serves as a bridge between private-sector cyber talent and SDF educational institutions by standardizing skills and curricula.

"It's a great location for talent training, research, and putting those skills to work," a senior SDF officer said.

The Ministry of Defense plans to sharply expand the SDF's cyber personnel to roughly 4,000 by fiscal 2027 from 2,400 or so as of fiscal 2024. It looks to bring its staffing on par with countries like the U.S. -- which has a 6,200-member cyberdefense force, according to the ministry's 2024 defense white paper -- and France, which aims to reach 5,000 in 2025.

"4,000 is the number of people we need to protect the Self-Defense Forces," a senior defense official said. "If government agencies and other organizations are included, that isn't enough people."

By comparison, China is estimated to have a 30,000-strong cyberattack force.

The Defense Ministry is trying to attract talent by setting the maximum annual salary for highly qualified candidates at around 23 million yen (about $145,500) -- the same as for chief of staff of the Joint Staff, Japan's top uniformed officer. Some in the cybersecurity industry say this is still too low.

At the same time, SDF personnel will continue to join NATO cyberdefense exercises and take other steps on international cooperation against threats.

Oppama District in Transition

Yokosuka’s Oppama District history is summarized below …. but big changes are coming, as Nissan’s huge automobile manufacturing factory will be closed down …. What will happen there in the future remains to be determined…

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The history of Oppama in Yokosuka City is such that the area was originally a scenic location, but land reclamation progressed for the construction of a naval air corps base, making it one of Japan's leading aircraft development centers. After the war, the Oppama plant of Nissan Motor began operations and developed into Nissan's main factory. Additionally, the origin of the name 'Oppama' is also linked to a legend in which Minamoto no Yoriie was pursued by pursuers.

Ancient to Edo Period:  

Legend of Minamoto no Yoriie: There is a legend that Minamoto no Yoriie was chased by pursuers and met his end at the coast of Oihama, and it is said that the name changed from "Oi-hama" to "Oihama."

Founding of Temples: During the Muromachi period, temples such as Nōei-ji, Jitoku-ji, and Hōfuku-ji were founded.

Samurai Governance: Asakura Noto-no-kami, a retainer of Hōjō Sōun, governed Oihama and established Raiden-sha (Raijin Shrine) and Ryōshin-ji.

Edo Shogunate's Stronghold: In the late Edo period, Sakai Tadakiyo became the lord of Urago Village and built Urago Jin'ya.

Meiji Period to World War II Naval Air Force Base: 

In the Meiji era, the Navy carried out land reclamation by cutting down parts of Natsushima and Eboshijima to build airfields, and Oppama became a major base for the former Naval Air Force.

Establishment of the Naval Air Arsenal: In 1932 (Showa 7), the Naval Air Arsenal was also established, becoming the central hub for full-scale aircraft research and development.

Genda Circus: Lieutenant Commander Minoru Genda, who commanded the attack on Pearl Harbor, was also known for conducting acrobatic flight training in Oppama.

U.S. Occupation: 

After the end of World War II, the U.S. military landed on the coast of Oppama (Red Beach) and seized the naval facilities.

Postwar to Present  

Start of operations at Nissan Oppama Plant: In 1961 (Showa 36), the Nissan Oppama Plant began operations and has led automobile production as Nissan’s mother plant. 

Opening of Oppama Park: In 1949 (Showa 24), Oppama Park was opened on the site of the former Navy Air Corps.  

Accumulation of new industries: After the war, the technologies cultivated in aircraft development were applied to the Shinkansen and YS11 passenger aircraft. Today, in addition to Nissan Motors, various industries such as ocean development and shipbuilding have taken root in Oppama.

Historic Uraga District to Get a Makeover

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/dc132c3c02b34bce3de11e6cac3e179f8cad51df

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Uraga in Yokosuka City, the site of Perry's arrival and the birthplace of Japanese shipbuilding. The city announced that the preferred negotiator for its development has been decided.

The 'Uraga Dock,' near Uraga Station on the Keikyu Line, is the site of a shipyard built by Sumitomo Heavy Industries. Until its closure in 2003, approximately 1,000 ships, including destroyers and escort vessels, were constructed there.

In March 2021, Sumitomo Heavy Industries transferred the dock and surrounding land to Yokosuka City free of charge, and last March, the two parties signed an agreement to revitalize the area around the station.

On the 23rd, the city announced that the preferred negotiator had been decided following a public recruitment process.

Katsuaki Kamiji, Mayor of Yokosuka City: "The theme of this project is the realization of a 'Second Opening of the Country,' packed with the full charm of Uraga's sea and history, as well as the potential of a new town."

According to the proposal from the business operators, hotels and condominiums will serve as new symbols, and facilities such as paid nursing homes and sports complexes will be established. The design also allows access from the station's second floor via an elevated walkway to Uraga Dock.

Katsuaki Kamiji, Mayor of Yokosuka City: "If a new town can be created as a single entity, incorporating various concepts..."A formal agreement for implementation is scheduled to be concluded between next year and the year after.

Tateishi Park

LINK:  Golden Hour at Tateishi Park: Mt. Fuji Meets the Sea | Yokosuka, Japan

Tateishi Park in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, is a hidden gem offering one of Japan’s most breathtaking sunset views. With the majestic silhouette of Mt. Fuji rising in the distance, this coastal park transforms into a mesmerizing scene as the sun dips below the horizon. Whether you’re a photography enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply looking for a peaceful retreat by the sea, Tateishi Park promises an unforgettable experience. Discover why this picturesque spot has long been cherished for its stunning blend of natural beauty and serenity.

Another LINK:

VIDEO: Scenic Tateishi Park near Yokosuka NB great for breathtaking sunsets  | Stripes Japan

Enjoy an enchanting view of the shoreline and Mount Fuji in the distance from Tateishi Park. This scene is so breathtaking, in fact, that it has been depicted in traditional Ukiyo-e art. Among them, “Soshu Miura Akiya no Sato” (Akiya Village in Kanagawa’s Miura Peninsula) by Ukiyo-e artist Hiroshige Ando (1797–1858) is especially famous.

Unusual Park for Traffic Safety

LINK:  横須賀市根岸交通公園

There is an interesting park/public space in Yokosuka City called "Negishi Traffic Park" (根岸交通公園).  It opened in July 1966, as a neighborhood park, and is located just a few minutes' walk from Keihin Kyuko Railways Kita-Kurihama Station.  Thereafter, in June 1971, in response to a Yokosuka City Traffic Safety City Declaration, a "Traffic Park" section was established in June 1971, with the aim of "developing traffic knowledge and traffic morals through healthy play for children and preventing traffic accidents".  

It features small roads, traffic signs, and signals, similar to urban areas, allowing children to ride bicycles and learn traffic rules in a real-world setting.  Of interest, children's bicycles, tricycles, go-carts, BMX bikes, etc., are available for rentals -- free of charge.  

There are 74 cherry trees planted within the park, and it therefore becomes a bustling place for cherry blossom viewers (花見, Hana-mi) during the blooming season in spring -- and there is a locally famous Cherry Blossom festival held in the park during springtime.  

Additionally, there is an Autumn Festival, where a variety of events, including a flea market (one of Yokosuka's largest), food stalls, an earthquake experience vehicle, a Halloween costume contest, and performances on stage, etc.

More background on Yokosuka's "Blue Eyed Samurai"

LINK:  Blue-eyed samurai | FCCJ

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SNIPPET:

In search of the real William Adams, intrepid adventurer and subject of endless fascination

It may be hard to believe, but in 1980, if someone mailed you a Betamax or VHS videocassette tape from abroad, the International Post Office in Otemachi would notify you by postcard of its arrival. The postcard enabled you to claim it in person, but only after customs inspectors had ascertained its contents were not pornographic.

In September 1980, the miniseries Shogun, based on James Clavell's eponymous bestselling novel, was broadcast in the U.S. over five consecutive nights on America's NBC TV. I was able to watch it soon afterwards through a somewhat convoluted process. Peter, a professor friend teaching at a local university, was married to Yasuko, a flight attendant for a European airline. Once or twice a week Yasuko's flights from Europe via the polar route stopped over in Anchorage, Alaska, where Peter had a recruited a friend to record the episodes of Shogun off the local TV. The friend dropped off the recordings at the airport, where they were picked up by Yasuko, who carried them back to Japan. All perfectly legal, of course. 

For several consecutive weekends that autumn, a small group of friends congregated at Peter's house in Nakano-ku and, while swilling beer and snacking on packets of sembei rice crackers, enjoyed watching the videotaped miniseries on a 19-inch Hitachi color TV. 

Four decades later, television viewing has certainly come a long way. Last year the 10 episodes of the remade Shogun miniseries were broadcast on FX, Hulu and the Disney Channel, including to subscribers in Japan. 

Starring Hiroyuki Sanada, Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano and Cosmo Jarvis, Shogun 2.0 received wide acclaim, setting a new record as the most awarded single season of television in Emmy history. It additionally received four Golden Globe Awards, including Best Television Series, Drama. 

Jarvis starred in the role of pilot major John Blackthorne, who was based on an actual historical personage, William Adams (1564–1620), the first Englishman to arrive in Japan. 

Adams, who came to be known as Miura Anjin, was 35 years old at the time his Dutch ship out of Rotterdam, De Liefde, dropped anchor off the coast of Bungo in present-day Usuki City in Oita Prefecture, Kyushu, on April 19, 1600. The journey through the Straits of Magellan and across the Pacific had been extremely arduous, with only 24 of De Liefde's original crew of 110 surviving, of whom perhaps only half a dozen were still ambulatory.

In October of the year Adams arrived in Kyushu, the struggle for control of Japan climaxed with Tokugawa Ieyasu's victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, in Mino Province (present-day Gifu Prefecture). According to historical accounts, 19 bronze cannons removed from Adams’s ship contributed to Ieyasu's victory. 

Three years later Ieyasu was officially appointed shogun and Adams, accorded the title of hatamoto (retainer), went on to serve as a trade and diplomatic advisor. He also supervised the building of Japan's first western-style sailing ship. He died in 1620 at age 55 and was buried in Hirado, Nagasaki Prefecture. 

As a hatamoto, Adams received an annual stipend of 250 koku of rice (one koku = 4.96 bushels or 278.3 liters of rice). His domain was located at Hemi, a seaside village in present-day Yokosuka City. 

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One local train stop from Hemi station on the Keikyu railway line is Anjinzuka (Anjin burial mound) station. The mound itself, designated a National Historic Site in 1923, is located at a high point in Tsukayama Park. If you want to visit, be prepared for a strenuous uphill climb. A Japanese signboard showing the route to the park is posted outside the station but the route is not well marked, so GPS guidance is advisable. Once you get to the top, which will take about half an hour, you'll enjoy clean air and a panoramic view. Two stone memorials behind a metal gate mark the graves of Adams, on the right, and his wife O-Yuki. The park maintains a rest house and vending machine dispensing chilled beverages. 

Yokosuka City Emblem

This is Yokosuka City's offical emblem.

The center of the harmoniously designed City emblem incorporates the first letters of the city name "Yo-ko" (using katakana characters: ヨ/yo and コ/ko -- note: the ko is reversed)/

The Yo-ko characters are stylistically combined in a circular shape inspired by the ancient Miura clan's "Mitsuhiki/3-Lines" family crest.

The surrounding 8-pointed star is meant to depict a navigational compass for ships and symbolizes Yokosuka's role as an important port city.

This City emblem was established on March 16, 1912, during the 45th year of the Meiji era.

Yokosuka City "Citizens' Charter"

(Promulgated on December 18, 2001)

Yokosuka Citizens' Charter

Yokosuka has the spirit to constantly challenge the creation of a new community that aims to be an appealing city reflecting an abundant wealth of natural assets including the sea and greenery as well as a long history of open interaction with the world.

With the beginning of the 21st Century, we have a desire to lead in this new era, and also have the opportunity to re-launch our Designated Mid-Level City as a place where citizens, businesses, and the city administration join hands in working together. We should therefore carefully observe this Charter in creating an urban community that is full of charm while respecting our hometown's history and culture.

  We will deepen relations with all countries and peoples and contribute to the international community.

  We will preserve the abundant natural beauties of the sea and greenery while creating an attractive and vibrant city.

  We will strive to become a city where children can grow up healthy and where everyone can pursue a meaningful life.

  We will build a local community where all people can have peace of mind through helping one another.

  We will build a city that is safe, able to withstand disasters, and is a comfortable place to live in.

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Link:

横須賀市民憲章全文｜横須賀市

Yokosuka Navy Burger

Yokosuka Navy Burger (ヨコスカネイビーバーガー) - Food in Japan

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Hamburgers are very popular in Japan. There are many restaurants that sell hamburgers, such as McDonald’s and Burger King.Did you know that there is a very tasty and special hamburger in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, called the Yokosuka Navy Burger? If you are ever in Kanagawa Prefecture, the Yokosuka Navy Burger is one you should try.

So, what kind of burger is it?

Yokosuka Navy Burger is different from the hamburgers you usually eat. Its taste differs completely from burgers that Japanese restaurants create. The flavor stands apart from Japanese-style burgers that combine various ingredients and sauces for local tastes.

The Navy Burger is different from the hamburgers you usually eat.This simple hamburger preserves the original flavor of the beef. The recipe uses 100 percent lean beef as the only ingredient, creating what resembles a steak on a bun. Diners can top their hamburger with fresh onions and tomatoes, and add mustard and ketchup to taste, following the traditional American style.

The hamburger was created in the U.S. more than 100 years ago, and after spreading throughout the country, by the early 20th century it had become a valuable menu item that the U.S. Navy could easily eat while on duty.

In the late 1940s, various American cultures spread from the U.S. Navy to Yokosuka, and hamburgers were served with jazz music and spread to the general public.

On November 19, 2008, the U.S. Naval Base Yokosuka provided a recipe for a traditional U.S. Navy hamburger.

The city of Yokosuka developed a new brand of hamburger based on this recipe, named Yokosuka Navy Burger, and the authentic taste of the hamburger is now available at stores around the base.

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DVIDS - News - The History of the Yokosuka Navy Burger: Part II

In November 2008, the commander of Naval Region Japan, Rear Admiral James D. Kelly, gave the service’s official hamburger recipe to Yokosuka Mayor Ryoichi Kabaya as a symbol of friendship between the U.S. Navy and City of Yokosuka. Kabaya later announced the recipe would be the foundation of the now trademarked Yokosuka Navy Burger and shared it with participating restaurants. Each restaurant then shared their variation to an unimaginable number of Japanese TV shows, photographers, tourists, local residents and Shore Patrol for the last 15 years.

This is all well-known.

A simple Google search of “Yokosuka Navy Burger” would return a few dozen pages of news stories, blog posts and marketing pieces all seemingly paraphrasing the same 150 or so words. It’s so heavily repeated even ChatGPT struggles to generate a different response no matter how many times it’s asked to write in the style of various publications.

Even the last part of this two-part series states the origins of the Yokosuka Navy Burger in 2008. And it’s true in the absolute, most definite terms. The Yokosuka Navy Burger is a trademark that is easily traced to 2008.

But it would seem Yokosuka’s hamburger story would be older than David Tyree’s “Helmet Catch.”

(Much more at the link above)....

Eyewitness to 1945 Yokosuka Air Raid

https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/original/perspectives/20250712-269270/

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Fumi Takahashi was 15 years old when she experienced the U.S. aerial bombing of the Yokosuka military port in Kanagawa Prefecture on July 18, 1945. The air raid near the end of the Pacific War targeted the battleship Nagato, which was anchored in front of her workplace.

Takahashi, from Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, was mobilized into a student labor unit and was at the Yokosuka military port that day. She escaped to a basement and survived, and later beheld the tragic sight of the heavily damaged Nagato, which had been regarded as the symbol of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Combined Fleet.

Her interview with The Japan News was the first time Takahashi has spoken to the media about those moments of terror 80 years ago.

“When I waved to the sailors on the Nagato, which was moored at the quay, they would wave back with signal flags.” Now 95 years old, Takahashi still vividly remembers the scene at Yokosuka military port.

Takahashi and 281 other third-year students from Iwaki Girls High School, now Fukushima Prefectural Iwaki Sakuragaoka High School, were mobilized as student labor in November 1944 and departed for Yokosuka. Takahashi was assigned to the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, where she began living in a dormitory with four others. Ten people from two teams, including Takahashi, went to a small hut directly above the dock every day. “We scraped the sides of metal boxes and painted numbers on them with green paint,” Takahashi recalls. Information was strictly controlled, and even now, she does not know what the boxes were used for.

The Nagato was moored in front of her workplace. It had been the flagship of the Combined Fleet during the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 8, 1941 (Japan time), and was a symbol of the Japanese Navy. For Takahashi, it was also the ship aboard which her elementary school teacher had served, and its imposing presence filled her with emotion.

The U.S. military, which had occupied Saipan and Tinian in the Mariana Islands, began full-scale aerial bombings on the Japanese mainland around November 1944. The largest air raid on Yokosuka, with hundreds of U.S. bombers, began on the afternoon of July 18, 1945.

“I had finished eating my lunch and was working in the afternoon,” Takahashi recalls. A loud alarm sounded, and they were told to evacuate to the basement. When a hatch under the floor was opened, a rope and iron ladder leading to the basement of the dock stretched straight down. The dimly lit interior of the dock seemed to lead to the “bottomless pit.”

When 10 students reached the second landing halfway down, the ground suddenly shook violently. “Mother!” “God!” everyone screamed. A bomb had fallen near their workplace. Takahashi recalled, “The ladder swayed like a swing, and I thought, ‘This is it.’”

After a while, there was a loud voice from above saying, “Come up!” When they climbed up and came out, the workplace was completely destroyed. The students jumped out of the broken windows. Some fell onto green paint that was splattered about, and their clothes became covered in it.

The students were told to “go to the mountain air-raid shelter” and started running. Takahashi said, “A young soldier from the Kaiten human torpedo unit appeared and carried me on his back. Nine others followed behind, crying.”

As dusk fell, Takahashi stepped outside the air-raid shelter to find the landscape completely transformed. There were large holes in the ground, and muddy water was flowing everywhere. When she approached the dock where the workplace was located, the Nagato was severely damaged and listing. Many of the ships that had been anchored there had sunk and were nowhere to be seen.

According to the book “Yokosuka,” an official history of the city, the Nagato was hit by bombs on its bridge and other areas. More than 40 people, including members of the Nagato’s crew, are said to have been killed in this air raid.

On August 15, the war ended. Three days later, Takahashi boarded a crowded train with her classmates and returned to her hometown.

At the end of the war, the Nagato was the only Japanese battleship still operational. After being seized by the U.S. military, it was used as a target ship in atomic bomb tests conducted at Bikini Atoll in July 1946 and sunk.

Takahashi agreed to an interview because her children told her, “With fewer and fewer people testifying about the war, Mom has a responsibility to tell the story.”

Amid postwar turmoil, she worked as a substitute teacher at an elementary school for about two years before getting married. She raised three children and was blessed with four grandchildren.

Her house, severely damaged in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and later reconstructed with its original materials, is over 130 years old. Small shrines and a Buddhist altar are lined up in her home, and every morning she offers water and rice and prays for those who died in the Pacific War, saying in her mind: “The war was terrible. Please rest in peace.” Then, with the hope that war will never happen again, she repeats, “Daijobu, daijobu [It’s okay, it’s okay].” For Takahashi, it’s a mantra to say, “It’s going to be all right.”

Yokosuka Ohka MXY-7 Cherry Blossom / Baka / MXY-11 / Model 11 Cherry Blossom / K-1

Yokosuka Ohka MXY-7 Cherry Blossom / Baka / MXY-11 / Model 11 Cherry Blossom / K-1 – All Aero

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Japan’s naval officers, in the summer of 1944, were faced with the almost sure knowledge that their country’s defeat was simply a matter of time. Even before Vice Admiral Ohnishi ordered the creation of the Kamikaze Special Attack Force in October 1944, some naval officers were seeing suicide attacks as the only way to defeat the Allied fleets. One of these men was a transport pilot of the 405th Kokutai, Ensign Mitsuo Ohta. He conceived the idea of a rocket-propelled suicide attack plane, and with the aid of personnel from the University of Tokyo’s Aeronautical Research Institute, he drafted preliminary plans for his brainchild. In August 1944 he submitted his drawings to the Naval Air Technical Arsenal at Yokosuka. The Navy decided that Ensign Ohta’s idea had merit, and so the Arsenal was instructed to prepare a set of detailed blueprints – the engineers involved were Masao Yamana, Tadanao Mitsugi, and Rokuro Hattori. The Ohka (Cherry Blossom) was, in effect, a manned anti-shipping cruise missile of the Pacific War.

The MXY7, as the design was named, was intended as a coastal-defense or anti-invasion weapon, launched by a “parent” aircraft. Once released by its “mother” ship – usually a G4M twin-engined bomber – the MXY7 would glide downwards, and once the pilot had selected a target, the weapon would accelerate to attack speed using the power of three solid-fuel rockets mounted in the tail. These rockets could be fired one at a time or all three simultaneously. Theoretically, when it was at its terminal velocity, the MXY7 would be virtually impossible to stop, and only pilot error could cause it to miss. This small but lethal aircraft was to be built of wood and non-critical metal alloys, utilizing unskilled labor, and as it would be flown by pilots with only limited aerial experience, flight instruments were to be kept to a bare minimum and good maneuverability was required to achieve accuracy in flying and aiming the “manned missile”.

The actual aircraft itself looked like a torpedo to which wings and twin tail surfaces had been added. Barely 20 feet long, and with wings spanning just over 16½ feet, its sliding canopy was hump-backed. In front of the canopy was a ring sight, with a bead sight in front of that, for precise aiming when in the terminal dive on a target. The Ohka was built by unskilled workers using as much non-strategic material as possible. The fuselage was a standard aluminium structure, but the wings were made of moulded plywood covered in fabric. Cockpit instrumentation consisted of only four instruments: a compass, an airspeed indicator, an altimeter and an inclinometer for turn indication.

Ten MXY7s were completed by the end of September 1944. Unpowered flight trials began at Sagami the following month, and in November the first powered flight was made at Kashima. The MXY7 was accepted for Navy service under the name Navy Special Attacker Ohka Model 11. It was powered by a battery of three Type 4 Mark 1 Model 20 rockets, which produced 1,764 pounds of thrust, combined, for 8 to 10 seconds of powered flight. Performance measured during an unmanned flight at Kashima in January 1945 indicated that the Ohka could reach a top unpowered speed of 288 mph and a top powered speed of 403 mph, both speeds being attained at a height of 11,485 feet.

The Imperial Navy didn’t bother to wait for all test results to come in; production began with the first ten Ohka Model 11s in September 1944, and 755 were built by the end of March 1945, when production of this variant ceased. One hundred and fifty-five were built by the Naval Air Technical Arsenal at Yokosuka, and 600 more by the First Naval Air Arsenal at Kasumigaura; Nippon Aircraft Ltd. and Fuji Aircraft Ltd were subcontractors for the wings and tail units. But barely a hundred of them were actually used in operations.

Yokosuka's Historic Type 36 Wireless Telegraph

https://www.kinenkan-mikasa.or.jp/2017_type36_telegraph.html

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The Type 36 wireless telegraph machine, exhibited in the radio/wireless telegraph room on the deck of the Memorial Battleship "MIKASA", was registered as an important science and technology historical material (heritage of future technology) of the National Museum of Nature and Science following its designation as a modern industrial heritage in 2008. 

This machine boasted the highest performance in the world at the time, and the reason for its registration is that it demonstrates the uniqueness of Japan's scientific and technological development on an international scale.

Following the Type 34 wireless telegraph, this was developed mainly by Navy engineer Kimura Shunkichi and played a significant role in the naval battle of the Japan Sea, including the first report of the discovery of the Baltic Fleet by the "SHINANO MARU" and reconnaissance reports by the cruiser "IZUMI", contributing to Japan's victory. 

The Type 36 wireless telegraph displayed in MIKASA is a replica made by Mr. Juji Yamada, who received direct guidance from Shunkichi Kimura at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal's Armament Department.

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The Type 36 radio telegraph sends and receives radio waves generated by spark discharge through an antenna and detects and prints them using a coherer detector with metal powder sealed in a glass tube.  It was developed by Navy engineer Shunkichi Kimura and others without relying on the technology of the Marconi Company.  Although it is not a complete reproduction, it is significant as evidence of Japan achieving high performance in radio telegraphy ahead of Europe.

明治天皇御駐蹕の碑 Monument of Emperor Meiji's Visit

明治天皇御駐蹕

Emperor Meiji frequently visited Yokosuka for inspections of the Yokosuka Naval Shipyard.  In the years 1871, 1873, and 1875, he stayed at the Mukoyama Imperial Villa (the Teacher's Hall of the Naval Academy), and to commemorate this, a monument and a small park dedicated to the Emperor Meiji's stay were constructed.

On November 3, 1933 (Meiji Day), the construction was completed, and a monument inscribed by Admiral Togo was erected on the hillside of Yawata Mountain (currently below Midorigaoka Academy), with an unveiling ceremony held.  In the small park, a monument commemorating the holy site written by General Kato was installed, along with various plantings and children's playground equipment.

The monument is made of stately granite, and at the top of the monument is a sphere representing the Earth, with a golden phoenix spreading its wings on top.  On the front, the inscriptions read "Emperor Meiji's Imperial Presence" (where "Imperial Presence" refers to the monarch stopping during a royal visit) and "Written by Fleet Admiral Togo Heihachiro (with seal)".

New Facility to Assist Digital Business Start-ups

Digital Garage Opens New Incubation Center“DG CAMP AKIYA Yokosuka City” | News | Digital Garage, Inc.

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-– Digital Garage, Inc. (DG) opens a new incubation center, DG CAMP AKIYA Yokosuka City, in Kanagawa Prefecture and begins operations in September 2024.

■ Incubation hub connecting startups around the world ..... Since the Open Network Lab launch in 2010, DG has been working to discover and foster talented startups and cutting-edge technologies from around the world and to implement them into the DG Group’s businesses. As part of the process, DG opened the incubation center “DG717” in San Francisco (2013), the conference hall “Dragon Gate” in the Shibuya Parco DG Building (2020), and now, as a replacement for “DG CAMP Kamakura” (2012 – 2024), “DG CAMP AKIYA Yokosuka City” is to be opened as a new incubation center in Akiya, Yokosuka City.

This center takes advantage of its location surrounded by the sea and hills of Yokosuka and is equipped with functions for startup camps, pitch events, and other events, including “Dragon Gate AKIYA,” a conference room with an open ocean view, and five accommodation spaces.

Moreover, an “ Artist-in-Residence Studio,” announced separately, will provide an environment for artists to stay and create artwork. The “Ryuichi Sakamoto Network Studio Project” will be released by the Shibuya City Office and other related parties in February of next year.

As an incubation hub connecting startups around the world, along with “DG717” and “Dragon Gate,” DG will work with its global network, “DG Global Incubation Stream,” to contribute to the emergence of startups that represent the world.

Nepalis an answer to Yokosuka labor shortage?

Discover Yokosuka 横須賀奥旨: Yokosuka's New Connection With Nepal

Six years have passed since Yokosuka City established a sister-city relationship with Bharatpur City in south-central Nepal (reported in the link shown above) .... Mayor Kamiji recently made another trip to Nepal, along with a business and labor-related delegation, to gather information and update efforts & coordination to enable Nepalis to come to Yokosuka and work for local small- and medium-sized businesses .... Yokosuka, like other local governments around Japan, faced with aging & shrinking population, and therefore reaching out directly to foreign countries to help solve the serious labor shortage problem...

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横須賀市長のネパール訪問について｜横須賀市

In order to support the utilization of foreign human resources by small and medium-sized enterprises, our city has concluded a memorandum of understanding with the city of Bharatpur in Nepal regarding mutual support, such as the dispatch of human resources.

As the labor shortage becomes more serious, the mayor will visit Bharatpur once again to confirm the local situation and will be accompanied by a delegation from the city's economic organizations to check the local human resources.

This trip is a rescheduled return to the city after it was canceled last October due to flight cancellations.

1. Period

Wednesday, March 26th to Sunday, March 30th, 2025

2. Visitors

Mayor,

Chairman of Yokosuka Construction Association,

Representative of Yokosuka Industrial Promotion Cooperative and Yokosuka Waterworks Cooperative,

Chairman and Director of NPO Japan-Nepal Mutual Cooperation Volunteers,

Director of Economic Affairs and other accompanying staff

3. Purpose

(1) Confirmation of the status of local human resources, sending organizations, Japanese language schools, etc.

(2) Meeting with Bharatpur city officials and government officials

(3) Inspection of the local situation by representatives of economic organizations in Yokosuka city