Memory of Kanto-mura

KantomuraMap

This area used to be a territory of the United States of America

The main entrance was located at South bottom end along with the Route 20. It is around the west of the current Ajinomoto Football Stadium.
North gate was located at the top of the map, near the Hitomi Way. Further north from the gate, there used to be an American School.
A Chofu Airport was at East crossing a green field site. The area now has been developed into a park and a football ground.
There is a suburb called Asahi-cho facing to Western side of the complex just across a road, divided by a long stretch of security fence.
Inside the fence (complex) used to belong to the United States, and was required someone from the complex to escort in.

Delivery area

Approximately 80% of households in this complex used to subscribe the Stars & Stripes paper at that time. Six Newsboys were sharing the area. We also delivered to staff members of an American school located outside of this area.

Paper storage area

Paper used to be stored in a building, which was located in the middle of the complex, far eastern side. Newly printed paper was left in the store for us to be picked up and delivered to individual households from there.

the number of households

It was approximately 220 blocks, and each block consisted of 4 units, means 880 households roughly. Six Newsboys were delivering.

Became friends with kids

I became friends with kids around, and they used to call me `Mino`. Their names were….Mike….Majully….if I remember. They must be about 55 years of age now. One of the close friends was Jim and his Grubbs family.

Main Entrance Gate (along Route 20)

Main Entrance Gate

This was the main entrance gate where ID was checked by a security guard. I was so regular there, so that the security guard knew who I was without my ID. This image was taken after I quit. The domination of the black & white photography was faded and replaced by the new comer, the colour photography, around this time.
The road was the Route 20 and was a part of the official marathon course of Tokyo Olympic back in 1964. A turning point of the Olympic marathon where the famous runners, Abebe Bikira (Ethiopia) and Tsuburaya (Japan) did U turn, was about 500m away from this gate.


Current where the Main Entrance Gate used to be

gate-now1 gate-now2

This is the place where the main entrance gate used to be. There are 2 small hotels around, and a large Ajinomoto Football Stadium can be seen. There are an aged care facility, a hospital and university campus nearby. There is no slight sense of what the place used to be in the old days.


Ajinomoto Football Stadium (Left) & Turning point of the Tokyo Olympic Marathon

olympic1 olympic2

The main entrance of the Ajinomoto Football stadium and around. Near the intersection, there is a memorial monument of the Tokyo Olympic Marathon turning point, just before the Kanto Village.
Athletes of walking race, on the other hand, did pass the main entrance gate and returned at the Koganei intersection of Fuchu. A memorial monument of the walking race quietly stands there.


Found a piece of the Kanto-mura

Kanto-mura1 Kanto-mura2

This is a spot where the North West corner of the Kanto Village used to be. There used to be a North gate beyond here, and it led to Hitomi Way. Some concrete building foundations can still be spotted. I used to deliver papers using this road, and there were well maintained green lawns around. The trees are seemed to be the same original ones.


Found some impressive websites

Kanto-mura

Particularly impressed was [sayonara Kanto-mura]by Sakata@Kanada
Abandoned pictures of Kanto-mura[takurama photo gallery]
Abandoned pictures of Kanto-mura (right)[Kanto-mura]


Memory of the Fuchuu base

fuchu_now fuchu_then1

Image on the right is the present of the Showa Street, while image on the left was taken by Jack Kennedy in 1960's at the same spot where used to be the main entrance gate. The building itself used to be the Fuchu Base Air force Headquarters, and it has not been changed much. If you have a look the images closely, you can spot the same cedar trees on both sides.
In those days, turning right there led to Mt.Sengen, and turning left there led to a Second primary school and farm lands beyond. It is proximately 500 meters away from Higashi-Fuchu Station. There used to be many night clubs and cabarets along the street, and filled with officers and lovely ladies at night. When I greeted officers, they usually gave me a bubble hum or a chocolate.
This Gingko tree line used to be a low height, and we regularly climbed up them. It may be difficult if someone tries to do that now.

Right side of the main gate

These pine trees too are the same. The building used to be the headquarters of the base, and now belongs to the Fuchu Base Air force. It was not my usual area.

South East Corner

There are 2 fighter jets displayed, that means the area is for the Air Force now.

North of the former base

The northern part of the former base still has some buildings left untouched. There is a signage saying 'Government land, no unauthorized entry'. It has been neglected almost 40 years since the complex was returned to Japan. This scenery oddly gives me a comfort, and reminds me of the old days when I used to deliver papers to this complex.

Residential houses face the abandoned complex over a fence

There are residential houses and car parks facing the complex across the street. Some residential houses were possibly there from 46 years ago. What would the house owners think of this abandoned complex.

A tower and satellite dishes

A rusty tower and satellite dishes are still keeping their form. I suspect these equipments used to play an important role at that time.

The road I used to pedal

The road, I used to pedal my bike to deliver papers, is now deserted. It still reminds me of the old days 46 years ago. But it too upsets me at the same time. Why this was happened.

Rusty Street Light an d house keeper

The rusty street lights are still untouched there for over 40 years.
At the north western corner of the former base, there is a concrete wall blocking a view into the fence. Although I used to be in this area delivering papers, there were houses of high rank generals, and security guards were patrolling around. Often these houses had housekeepers (maids) too. (They are quite different from the ones in Akihabara.)

Close by building

This building was probably a communication facility. I recall hearing a puncher noise of paper when I was passing by. Jim also showed me inside once. This is the closest building you can see from outside, so it reminds me of the old memories the most.

 

Any thoughts?

A view from the Mt.Sengen, overlooking the north of the former base. There are overgrown neglected trees and 2 miserable satellite dishes which are still standing there and facing to America. It is almost overdue for a change now, being something different...