History of Yasuura District

The Yasuura district of Yokosuka City has a deep historical connection to the Great Kanto Earthquake and the formation of its "Meishuyagai" (sake shop district).

The Origins of Yasuura and the Great Kanto Earthquake

• Land's Origin: In 1922 (Taisho 11), the Yasuda Hozensha, a subsidiary of the former Yasuda zaibatsu (financial conglomerate), reclaimed land from Toda Beach and named it "Yasuura-cho," combining "Yasu" from Yasuda and "ura" from Kaigan (coast).

• The Great Kanto Earthquake and Barracks: Following the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 (Taisho 12), approximately 2,000 evacuees moved to city-owned barracks built in Yasuura-cho.

• Establishment of Rice, Miso, and Sake Shops: With the rapid increase in refugees and migrants, everyday shops such as rice shops, miso shops, oil shops, sake shops, and general stores began to appear.

Transformation into a "Sake Bar District"

• Relocation and Consolidation After the Earthquake: As part of the post-earthquake reconstruction plan, "sake bars" (establishments serving alcohol and employing prostitutes) that had been scattered throughout Yokosuka City were forcibly and compulsorily gathered in a corner of Yasura.

• Development and Vibrancy: With the provision of public funds, the area transformed into an entertainment district and geisha area, with approximately 88 shack-like sake bars (later said to have reached 150 cafes and other establishments at its peak) lining the streets, mainly in 3-chome.

• Entertainment District of a Military City: The area was bustling with military personnel from the Yokosuka Naval District and Naval Arsenal, as well as fishermen from Nagaura Port.

• Post-War and Present: After the war, it retained its remnants as a red-light district (former red-light district) until around 1958, but now most of it has been transformed into a quiet residential area or reclaimed land for "Heisei-cho."

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Yasura (present-day Yasura-cho) in Yokosuka City has a history as one of Yokosuka's three major red-light districts (brothels/unlicensed prostitution areas), alongside Kashiwagida and Minagasaku.

History and Transformation of Yasura

Origins (Taisho Era):

• It began in the Taisho era, forming near Yasura Fishing Port (on reclaimed land by Yasuda Hozensha, etc.).

Pre-war Golden Age (Around 1937):

• With the wartime boom following the Manchurian Incident and the development of Yokosuka as a military city, the area rapidly expanded, catering to naval personnel and laborers. It is said to have had approximately 80 establishments and over 300 women.

Post-war Era of the Allied Powers:

• After the end of the war, with the arrival of GHQ, establishments such as "Yasura House" by the Special Comfort Facilities Association (RAA) were set up, and it reached its peak as one of Yokosuka's largest red-light districts, frequented by American soldiers and dockworkers. Records indicate that there were approximately 150 establishments and around 400 prostitutes during a period after the war (around 1955).

The Prostitution Prevention Law and its Aftermath:

• Although it officially disappeared with the enforcement of the Prostitution Prevention Law in 1958, remnants of the area, including so-called "blue-light districts" and unlicensed brothels, and café architecture, remained until the Heisei period (around the 2000s).

Current Situation:

• The nearest station, "Yasura Station" on the Keikyu Line, was renamed "Kenritsu Daigaku Station" (Prefectural University Station) at the request of local residents. Currently, Kanagawa Prefectural University of Health and Welfare and apartment buildings have been constructed in the surrounding area, transforming it into a residential area with some remnants of the past, such as tiled café architecture and retro public bathhouses (Hinode-yu).

More About Yokosuka's "Navy Curry"

Kaigun Curry – A Dish Passed Down in Yokosuka | APRIL 2026 | HIGHLIGHTING Japan

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One factor behind the popularization of curry rice in Japan was the dietary reforms in the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Meiji period (1868 to 1912).  Its flavor, developed with nutrition and cooking efficiency in mind, has been reconstructed along with history in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and is still being introduced in local initiatives today.

In Japan, cuisine from the West has been welcomed in many forms since the Meiji period.  Curry rice is one of those dishes, spreading through multiple channels, such as Western-style restaurants, home cooking, and school lunch.  In the 1880s, the fledgling Imperial Japanese Navy was plagued by a serious problem of beriberi caused by chronic malnutrition, and navy surgeon TAKAKI Kanehiro led the Heishoku Kaikaku, reforms to the naval diet.  Among the changes introduced was a dish inspired by the British Navy, in which meat and vegetables were simmered and thickened, then served over white rice.  This became known as “curry rice.”

“At the time, a sailor’s diet consisted mainly of white rice, which often led to vitamin deficiencies.  Curry rice was said to help provide a balanced intake of protein and vitamins.  Its moderately thick consistency goes well with white rice, and is spill-resistant even on a rocking ship, perfect for such an environment,” says WATANABE Hiroo of the Yokosuka Curry Town Business Association.  The distinctive feature of navy-style curry rice was that it was designed as a part of system to improve nutrition condition.  Over time, retired servicemen are thought to have brought this taste back home, leading to the popularization of navy-style curry rice.

At the time in the Imperial Japanese Navy, cooking methods and menus were outlined in documents, the Gotochufu Kyoiku Kisoku (“Regulations on Culinary Education”) and the Kaigun Kappojutsu Sankosho (“The Official Culinary Manual of the Imperial Japanese Navy”).  These were also attempts to organize a food system.  Along with the naval records preserved in Yokosuka City, these materials help provide insights into the food culture of the time.

Since the Meiji period, Yokosuka City has developed as a port town centered on the navy, and it still hosts a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) base today.  Initiatives to introduce the curry rice originating from the navy began in 1999, aiming to make use of the historical memories remaining throughout the city as local resources.  Efforts to recreate and introduce the curry rice served in the Meiji period, based on Imperial Japanese Navy records and materials, went into full swing.

“While valuing the city’s historical background, a movement took shape; Yokosuka City, the Yokosuka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the JMSDF joined forces to promote the navy’s curry rice as a community initiative.  We believe it is important to treat history not as a transient topic but to keep passing it on, and this is why we have continued this work for over 25 years,” says WATANABE.

As part of regional revitalization focused on “Yokosuka Kaigun (Navy) Curry,” a variety of events where people can enjoy curry rice, including the Yokosuka Curry Festival, are held.

“Today’s Yokosuka Kaigun Curry was reconstructed based on these navy recipes.  It usually has beef or chicken, with onions, carrots, and potatoes, and is served with salad and milk on the side,” explains WATANABE.  Authorized restaurants in the city serve it, offering a way to learn about the city’s history by enjoying this culinary experience.

In the JMSDF, there is a tradition of serving curry every Friday during voyages at sea, in order to retain a sense of the days of the week.  Against this cultural backdrop, Yokosuka City also runs the “Yokosuka JMSDF Curry” initiative, which lets diners enjoy the JMSDF legacy curry recipes at local restaurants.  These dishes recreate the flavors of active-duty naval vessels based on each ship’s recipe, and the serving methods and cooking processes at the restaurants are also verified with the cooperation of the JMSDF to ensure that certain standards are maintained.

These curry flavors born from naval food culture and interwoven with Yokosuka’s history are now also available in retort pouch products and other forms and are being introduced as part of the city’s local initiatives.  This path of preserving tradition while innovating to adapt to the contemporary era exemplifies the distinctively Japanese concept of “local yoshoku.”  When you visit Yokosuka City, we encourage you to savor some curry rice while musing about local history.

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A curry rice recipe from the Kappojutsu Sankosho (Summarized)

◇ Ingredients

Beef (or chicken), carrots, onions, potatoes, salt, curry powder, flour, rice

◇ Instructions

-- Finely dice the meat, onions, carrots, and potatoes, sauté together.

-- Coat a frying pan with beef tallow, sauté the flour, then add curry powder, broth, meat, and vegetables. Simmer over low heat and season with salt.

-- Serve over rice with pickles (chutney) on the side.

Mysterious Miharu-Cho Ruined Shrine

The "Inari Dai-Myojin Ruins" in Miharu-cho 4-chome, Yokosuka City, is a little-known spot where, although the shrine buildings and torii gate once stood, the structures have now disappeared, leaving behind the torii gate, stone steps, and large sacred trees (ginkgo and machilus).

Features and Current Status

• Location: 4-56 Miharu-cho, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture

• Access: Located in an area sandwiched between the Keikyu Main Line and Keikyu Kurihama Line tracks. It's a place that's sometimes talked about by railway enthusiasts and locals as the torii gate and trees can be seen from train windows.

• Remaining Structure: The torii gate, stone steps, stone lantern bases, and magnificent sacred trees such as ginkgo and machilus remain. The shrine itself is said to have collapsed or disappeared due to typhoons and other factors, and has not been rebuilt, leaving only the site.

• Surrounding Atmosphere: The area retains a slightly mysterious atmosphere, with horizontal caverns believed to be the remains of air raid shelters and episodes that convey past beliefs (such as legends surrounding the Fudo Myoo statue).

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This is a mysterious small shrine (or site) known locally, with very few official records remaining regarding its detailed founding date or history.

Overview and Current Status

• Location: Near 4-56 Miharu-cho, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture

• Site: Located on a hill or slope near the railway tracks where the Keikyu Main Line and Keikyu Kurihama Line diverge and intersect.

• Current Status: The shrine building and worship hall have already been lost, leaving only the "site" where the torii gate, stone steps, and stone lanterns once stood, as well as damaged Machilus thunbergii and ginkgo trees believed to be sacred trees.

Historical and Background Speculation

• Object of Worship: It is presumed to have been a small Inari shrine established during the Meiji era or later, when a divided spirit of a god or Buddha was invited to pray for a bountiful harvest and business prosperity in the region.

• Surrounding Environment: Located adjacent to the Keikyu Line tracks (near the junction around Horinouchi Station), it is a spot where the torii gate and cluster of trees can be seen from the train windows, and is known as a minor point of interest and exploration spot along the line (abandoned shrine/mysterious shrine site).

Yokosuka's Coal-fired Power Station

Yokosuka power station - Global Energy Monitor

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Yokosuka power station (横須賀発電所) is an operating power station of at least 1300-megawatts (MW) in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan.

In 2014, TEPCO and J-Power proposed a 1,000 MW coal-fired power station in the city of Yokosuka, with a planned operation date of 2020.  It will be constructed at the site of Tepco's Yokosuka oil-fired power plant, which has been taken offline because of its age.

According to the Kiko Network, the unit would be 650 MW. It is under EIA assessment and planned for operation in 2023.

In April 2016, TEPCO said it was adding another 650 MW unit to the plant, also under permit review and planned for operation in 2024.  J-Power is no longer listed as a sponsor.  The plant is sponsored by Jera, the JV formed in 2015 between TEPCO and Chubu Electric Power.

In January 2018, the Draft Environmental Impact Assessment for the project was submitted by JERA, a joint subsidiary of TEPCO and Chubu Electric.

In April 2019, JERA's president stated that the company was still committed to building the plant despite the cancellation of several proposed coal plants in Japan and recent divestment from coal by numerous Japanese banks.

The EIS process was completed in February 2019.  According to the Kiko Network and news reports the plant construction of the plant had begun as of December 2019.

According to Beyond Coal Japan, the units are planned to come online in 2023 and 2024.

In July 2022, the power station started trial operations. The local group No Coal Tokyo Bay issued a protest statement against JERA.

Unit 1 started commercial operation on June 30, 2023, as Japan Beyond Coal highlighted.

Unit 2 started commercial operation on December 22, 2023.[15]

In June 2025, JERA announced plans to conduct carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) testing at Yokosuka power station.  The CCUS equipment was slated to be installed by FY2030.

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In April 2021, young climate activists protested at the plant arguing that it was necessary for Japan to phase out coal power to be successful in the fight against climate change.

In June 2023, the citizens group No Coal Yokosuka issued a statement of protest, calling to “Stop operation of the coal-fired power plant, which will intensify health risks for residents and accelerate the climate crisis.”  Kiko Network also issued a statement strongly protesting the operation of the plant.  Citing JERA’s major ad campaigns that claim to “Make fire that does not emit CO2”, the statement pointed out that JERA’s recent activities – starting operation of Taketoyo Unit 5 (a 1,070 MW coal power unit) last August and now also Yokosuka Unit 1, and constructing Yokosuka Unit 2 as well as other new LNG-fired thermal power stations – are not only not zero emissions, but actually increase Japan’s CO2 emissions.

The "Hidden Neighborhoods" Inside Yokosuka Navy Base

The large navy base in Yokosuka is located on a small peninsula where people lived for a long time before it was built-up to become the Imperial Japanese Navy's (IJN) "Yokosuka Naval Arsenal", starting in the mid-19th century.

Residents on the small peninsula dwelt in three neighborhoods: Tomari-Cho, Kusugaura-Cho, and Inaoka-Cho.  As IJN began facilities construction and making landfills, etc., the people in those neighborhoods were forced to relocate.

Currently, the addresses for the three neighborhoods still exist and are located inside the areas controlled by Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY).

Here is a brief description of how IJN acquired and used properties in Yokosuka, prior to and during World War II (WW2)...

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In Yokosuka before and during WW2, there were virtually no instances, except for a few special cases, of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) directly "expropriating" (forcibly and temporarily occupying) the homes and land of civilians.  However, IJN's influence on civilians was more widespread in the form of "eviction through purchase" rather than expropriation, and a "designated inn system" where houses were rented out.  The historical relationship between "civilian homes and land" and the "Navy" in Yokosuka will be explained in the following three points.

1.  Land acquisition by IJN before & during WW2 -- (purchase and eviction) 

In the late-19th/early-20th centuries, when IJN expanded its naval ports, arsenals, defensive gun batteries, and air bases (such as Oppama and Taura), it did not unilaterally seize (confiscate) the homes and land of civilians, but instead basically followed the procedure of "purchase by the state."  

However, in the final stages of WW2, when the fighting intensified, there were cases in which surrounding residents were ordered to vacate their homes in a semi-forced manner (land and houses were purchased by the state) in order to construct air raid shelters and underground factories in preparation for the decisive battle on the mainland. 

Of note, in the case of nearby Ikego in Zushi City, IJN bought up the land before WW2, forced civilian residents to vacate, and managed it as military land (i.e., as an ammunition depot).

2. De facto rental of "Navy-designated inns" 

During WW2, a huge number of IJN personnel gathered in Yokosuka from all over the country.  As IJN's own facilities could no longer accommodate them all, it designated private inns in the city as "Yokosuka Navy Non-Commissioned Officers and Sailors' Meeting Place & Designated Inns."

Almost all inns in the city, such as Ikkoku-ya, Yokosuka-ya, and Mikasa-kan, were assigned and effectively placed under IJN control as accommodations for IJN personnel departing for war and their families who came to see them off.

3.  Large-scale "reclamation" was carried out by the post-war U.S. military (occupying forces). 

Much of the public memory and record of "civilians' homes being requisitioned" is not from IJN, but from the American military (occupying forces) that occupied Japan after the end of the war. 

After the end of the war in August 1945, the Allied forces (GHQ) took control over not only former Japanese military facilities, but also civilian homes and upscale Western-style houses -- and used them as accommodations and facilities for U.S. military officers.

In Yokosuka and the neighboring city of Yokohama, many civilian homes were requisitioned and later converted into U.S. military facilities (U.S. military family housing, etc.). 

This strong post-war impression is sometimes confused with the image of "being taken by IJN during WW2."