Tachikawa: The Curious Story of an Aviation Hub - Dive in Tokyo

Tachikawa's Aviation Roots [0:00]

• The city of Tachikawa is located about 35 kilometers west of central Tokyo.
• It was once the site of a major airfield and home to airplane factories.
• The area was later drawn into the vortex of war and served as a U.S. military base after World War II.

  "Later, the Tachikawa area was drawn into the vortex of war."

George Cockle's Return [0:48]

• Radio DJ George Cockle, who lived in Tachikawa in the 60s and 70s on the military base, returns to investigate changes.
• He notes the station was already a busy terminal, but a monorail has since been added.
• Tachikawa has become a highly livable town with public facilities, shopping complexes, and green space.

  "I'm at the station right here. And I used to live here in the 60s and 70s with my family on the military base."

Showa Kinen Park: A Green Legacy [1:30]

• Showa Kinen Park, a vast national park, covers approximately 1.8 million square meters.
• It was the site of the former U.S. Air Force Base, providing the large open space.
• A tree planted during the airfield's operational days is a central feature, with the park designed around it.

  "This used to be the Air Force Base, an American base. That's where they had all this space to work with."

The Railroad's Spark [3:14]

• The town's growth is attributed to the railway, with Tachikawa being a small farming village in the Edo Period.
• It served as a distribution hub for materials like lumber and limestone due to its location between major transport routes.
• Illustrations from the Meiji era show the significant impact of the train, with only the station visible amidst fields.

  "Back then, Tachikawa was mostly farmland. Why did they build a railroad and a local station?"

The "Capital of the Skies" [4:08]

• Tachikawa Airfield became Japan's gateway to the world, earning the city the nickname "capital of the skies."
• The area hosted aircraft-related factories, with one company tracing its history back to 1924 as an aircraft maker.
• Tachikawa Airfield was established in 1922, chosen for its flat land and railroad access, with commercial flights to Osaka beginning a year later.

  "Tachikawa Airfield became Japan's gateway to the world And the surrounding areas became home to many aircraft related factories"

Preserving Aviation Heritage [5:29]

• Some old factory buildings and warehouses have been preserved, including a recovered 1943 aircraft used for pilot training.
• The company is restoring this aircraft, aiming for a public unveiling in three years.
• The company is committed to preserving its heritage to pass on Tachikawa's legacy as a city of the skies.

  "This aircraft originally crashed into a lake back in 1943 And was later recovered in 2012"

Wartime Scars and Resilience [7:36]

• During World War II, Tachikawa's industry shifted to military production, making it a target.
• An old electrical substation for an airplane engine factory, now a museum, displays numerous bullet holes from machine gun fire.
• This engine plant was hit in three air raids, resulting in 111 deaths, but the substation continued to supply power after the war until 1993.

  "It's a building full of bullet holes. Check it out."

The Tsunagawa Struggle [9:57]

• After WWII, the airfield became a U.S. military base, and in 1955, a protest movement formed when U.S. forces sought to expand the runway.
• The "Tsunagawa Struggle" involved farmers and residents fighting to protect their land from the proposed construction.
• The 14-year struggle was successful, leading to the cancellation of the expansion plan in 1969 and the base's return to Japan in 1977.

  "Their efforts drew the support of not only nearby residents, but labor unions, student activists, and many more, and attracted nationwide attention."

Echoes of the Base Town [12:26]

• Areas like "Bamboo Village" once housed American-style houses for servicemen.
• Local merchants, including a soy sauce brewery owner named Murano Yasunari, benefited from the base personnel.
• "Cinema Street" was a popular nightlife spot catering to American servicemen, filled with bars and nightclubs.

  "People from the base made good customers for local merchants who even set up souvenir shops."

Artistic Rebirth [15:12]

• The former airfield grounds are now occupied by Showa Kinen Park and the Japan Self-Defense Forces Base.
• Commercial development led to the creation of "Farrei Tachikawa," a shopping complex completed in 1994.
• The area was filled with public art, transforming it into a massive open-air gallery with 109 artworks by artists from 36 countries.

  "The whole area was also set aside for commercial development. Farrei Tachikawa, which is spread across seven blocks, was completed in 1994."

A City of Art and Skies [17:43]

• Tachikawa's concept of "the whole city as a museum" was driven by the desire to make the area more friendly through art.
• Public art is integrated into city infrastructure, including a piece depicting a dragonfly transforming into an airplane, honoring the town's past.
• The city continues to flourish, blending its "city of the skies" heritage with a new culture of art and development.

  "Tatsukawa市はこれを作った時に街全体が美術館というコンセプトを出したわけ."

Concluding Thoughts [18:40]

• George Cockle reflects on Tachikawa's evolution, noting its flourishing development, new shopping streets, beautiful art, and emerging culture.
• He reiterates the city's dual identity as the "city of the skies" and the "city of the arts."

  "And this town, it's been flourishing, it's been changing. It's got all this new stuff everywhere, shopping streets, lots of beautiful art."