Mind Rock Award

Can Rock Change Yokosuka? Bring On the Music! | JAPAN Forward

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== Can Rock Change Yokosuka? Bring On the Music!

-- Yokosuka, a city known for its military bases, is out to revitalize. So, it held a band contest, turning on the rock music and bringing a community together.

(September 21, 2024)

Rock isn't just a music genre — it's a way of life! The MIND・ROCK・AWARD 2024, Japan's largest band contest, took place on September 7-8 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. 

From 203 bands and artists nationwide, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, 17 were selected to perform in the final showdown. The winning band will be named the Yokosuka Rock 'n' Roll Ambassador and will headline a live show at the Yokosuka Arts Theatre.

Yokosuka, a city deeply influenced by American culture due to its United States military base, is on a mission to become a "City of Music, Sports, and Entertainment." 

Now in its second year, the contest specifically seeks bands and artists who embody the spirit of "living with a rock mindset." To qualify, at least one member of the group has to be 40 years or older. That showcases how the passion for rock transcends age.

-- Using Rock to Transform a Town

The venue came alive with the booming sound of drums and the crowd's excitement. Among the performers was a female musician who captivated the audience with her raw, solo guitar performance and powerful vocals.

After the contest, a surprise performance by Mayor Katsuaki Kamiji's band added to the excitement. The mayor, a former musician, sang and danced on stage, earning cheers and applause from the audience.

Takatomo Nozawa, a judge known for producing SMAP and other top Japanese idols, remarked on the event. "It's rare to see so many bands participate in a contest organized by a local government," he said. "Continuously holding this event will have a greater impact."

Mayor Kamiji commented, "At first, there was criticism about why a local government would promote rock music. But music is just a tool. I want to use rock to transform this town."

The event showcased the community's unique ties to American culture, fitting for a town with a US military base. 

19th Century Yokosuka Iron Works (Shipyard)

The Yokosuka Ironworks, although named an ironworks, was primarily a shipbuilding and ship repair facility, and was started in 1865 and renamed the Yokosuka Shipyard in 1871. After the opening of the country to the outside world, Japan needed a facility near Edo (Tokyo) that could repair large ships. After studying the state of technology around the world, the Edo shogunate commissioned the construction of a shipyard to France, and the location was decided to be Yokosuka. The French, who were entrusted with the construction, called the Yokosuka Ironworks “Arsenal d'Iokosuka”.

The Yokosuka Ironworks was positioned as a base for transferring Western technology to Japan and strengthening its industrial capabilities. In addition to ships, the Yokosuka Works produced machinery for government-owned factories in various regions, such as the Tomioka Silk Mill and Ikuno Mine, and greatly supported the modernization of Japan. The architecture of the Tomioka Silk Mill, a World Heritage Site, was also designed by the Yokosuka Works.

Kannonzaki Nature Museum

Kannonzaki Park faces Tokyo Bay and includes beach and rocky tide pool areas, as well as hills covered with lush green forests and hiking trails.  Situated within the park is a small and unique facility called 観音崎自然博物館 (Kannonzaki Shizen Hakubutsu-kan), which means "Kannonzaki Nature Museum".  It was established in 1953 as a museum and ocean research facility.  The sea located offshore from the museum is called the "Tokyo Bay Catchment Area" where the runoff waters from the surrounding hills and streams mix with the incoming ocean water flowing from the Kuroshio Current (黒潮).  The result is an area very rich in biodiversity.  The exhibits in the museum are based on the theme of “real nature and ecology” in the Tokyo Bay Catchment Area and the Miura Peninsula, and include seaweed, seasonal flowers, plants, trees, shore creatures, insects, amphibians, and reptiles.  Visitors can not only see the creatures and their behavior, but also smell and touch them, using all of their senses to experience real nature & ecology.  In particular, visitors can touch live octopus, sea urchins, starfish, sea cucumbers, crabs, and fish in the touch pool on the terrace. The museum also propagates rare coastal plants that remain in Kannonzaki Park, planting them in the museum garden, and conducts surveys of aquatic insects, amphibians, and other freshwater aquatic organisms on the Miura Peninsula.  Of note, collocated with the museum are a Visitor Center and a small restaurant called "Restore", which serves coffee, wine, and light meals.

Kannonzaki Nature Museum (Yokosuka, Kanagawa) – Access, Hours & Fees | Japan Aquariums

Exploring Japan: Quick trip from Yokosuka NB to Kannonzaki | Stripes Japan

Yokosuka Chuo Station --- "Y-Deck"

Yokosuka City is situated on the Miura Peninsula, with its west coast facing Sagami Bay (with views of Mouth Fuji) and its east coast facing Tokyo Bay.  The eastern part of Yokosuka is the most urbanized and crowded, as it is the location of a large harbor area, which has been used for many years by both the Japanese and U.S. navies.  Yokosuka's main commercial and entertainment district is located right outside the navy base/harbor area.  Yokosuka is also a transportation hub, with two railway lines that convey commuters up to Yokohama and Tokyo.  One of the train lines is called Keihin Kyuko and its main/busiest local station is "Yokosuka Chuo Eki" (横須賀中央駅).  Yokosuka Chuo Station was originally built in 1930, providing direct connecting rail service up to Yokohama.  Surrounding "Chuo Station" are all kinds of retail shops, restaurants, pubs, and other businesses.  A distinctive feature of the station is an open plaza area, and a raised large pedestrian bridge called: "Y-Deck".  The Y-Deck was built in the mid-1990s and is designed to resemble the sea and sails, in reference to Yokosuka being a port city.  The Y-Deck and plaza area outside of Yokosuka Chuo Station are used for festivals, musical/busker performances, blood collection drives, meet-up spots, politicians making speeches, etc., as well as the constant passage of thousands of people on their way to trains, buses, and taxis.  Also, a large conifer tree is located in the plaza, which is lit-up with decorative "illumination" lights during the year-end holiday season.

横須賀中央駅前広場