JMSDF's Tadodai Guest House (Annex), overlooking Tokyo Bay, was built in 1913 as the Yokosuka Naval District Commander's official quarters.
The Commander the Yokosuka Naval District at the time was Baron Uryu Sotokichi, a Vice Admiral general in the Imperial Navy who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, and he and his wife were among the first students sent by the Japanese government to the United States for study in 1871.
Furthermore, Mr. Kotaro Sakurai, who was in charge of planning and designing this official residence, graduated from the Department of Construction at the University of London in 1890, and was the first Japanese to be awarded the title of "Chartered Architect".
The Tadodai building is the result of the combined knowledge and creativity of VADM and Mrs. Uryu and Mr. Kotaro Sakurai ... and its unique architectural design incorporates both Western and Japanese styles.
The first resident of the Tadodai Flag Quarters was VADM Yorinobu Higashifushimi of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and from that time until the end of the war in 1945, 34 generations (31 people) of successive Yokosuka Naval District Commanders resided there.
After the end of World War II, Tadodai was used as U.S. Navy Flag Officer quarters until 1969, when it was transferred to the Japan Defense Agency and has subsequently been managed by the Commandant of JMSDF's Yokosuka District.
Today, it is used as a venue for various meetings and for the reception of dignitaries and dignitaries from Japan and abroad.
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