Bansei (Kaseda-shi City) (2003/9/19) 　During the summer of 1943 and the end of 1944, an army air base was under constraction in Fukiagehama. This is Bansei Air Base. Although the name is not as famous as Chiran, the Peace Memorial Hall has many exhibits, and it was definitely worth visiting.

●Kaseda-shi City 　Kaseda is the city with the population of approximately 24,000 people, which is located in the west part of Satsuma Peninsula, Kagoshima Prefecture. There is Fukiagehama, which is known as one of the three major sand hills. Artistic sand craft is so popular that even an international competition was held in Kaseda. The city is also famous for its residents of samurai families, and the historic sights are well reserved. 　 The old names of the city are Bansei and Kaseda-mura Village, and there once was Bansei Air Base (Bansei Hikojo), which took its name from the old name of the city Bansei. The base was constructed as a base for the national defense and the battle of Okinawa, with the cooperation of the military and local people. 　However, the base was used for only four months from March 28th, 1945. It was also infamous among the people in Japan, and was called "the phantom kamikaze base." ●Kaseda-shi Peace Memorial Hall 　Just like the name Bansei, which means thousands of years, the memorial hall was established with a wish to "pass down the story of kamikaze from generation for generation for thousands of years, with prayers for peace." 　The exterior was designed based on Akatombo, which is the training biplane used by many young men who dreamed to become pilots and had finished series of hard trainings. The unique roof is the symbol of two hands joined together in prayer for peace. 　From Bansei Air Base, which was built in the location of the peace memorial hall, 201 young kamikaze pilots, including 170 juvenile pilots, made sorties in order to defend their country. 　 On the first floor, Type 0 reconnaissance aircraft, which was pulled up from Fukiagehama, and the witnesses of the people in Kaseda are exhibited. Also, a visual material is televised. 　On the second floor, there are the photographs, mementos and wills of kamikaze pilots exhibited in order so that it is easier for the visitors to understand. As I (the author) looked through them, the sublime spirits of kamikaze pilots really touched my heart and I could not help it. Some times it was hard to hold my tears because were so touching. ●Bansei Kamikaze War Cenotaph "Yorodzuni" 　The cenotaph was built in the site of Bansei Air Base in Kaseda-shi in May 29th, 1972 with an appeal by Shichiro Naemura, a writer and the author of the book, "Yorodzuni(For Thousands of Years)." The following is the epitaph on the cenotaph. 　"In 1944, the war situation in the Pacific grew more serious, and was about to reach its final stage. In here, Hukiagehama of Kaseda-shi, Bansei Air Base, a base for the national defense and the battle of Okinawa, was build by the local people, students and the military that joined their hands together, trying to accomplish the great goal of changing the war situation. 　From March 28th, 1945 to the end of the war, the young pilots of the units of the Army Special Attack Force Shimbu-tai, Hik? Dai Rokuj?roku-sentai (the 66th Flying Corps), and Hik? Dai Goj?go-sentai (the 55th Flying Corps) flew beyond the clouds to defend our country. The planes took off over and over. There were so many pilots who did not come back alive. Some of them died in the sky. Some of them crashed into enemies. Their deaths are heroic and tragic. Even the demon gods would cry in front of those pilots' sincerely to die for the country. 　Many years have passed since the end of the war, and our country has accomplished its shining revival. We, the survivors of the war, build this cenotaph in order to calm the spirits of brave soldiers, and to praise their great achievements. 　　　　　　　　May 29th, 1972" ●Information 　The memorial hall is open everyday throughout the year, except on December 31st and January 1st, from 9 am to 5 pm (the entrance closes at 4:30 pm). 　It takes 80 minutes to Kaseda-shi from Kagoshima Airport by bus. It takes 80minutes from Nishikagoshima Station and 50 minutes from Ijuin Station. However, the transportation from central Kaseda to the memorial hall isn't clear. I (the author) used a rent-a-car in Kaseda and Chiran. Rent-a-car is very useful since Kaseda is only 25 minutes away from Chiran. ●Address 　Kaseda-shi Peace Memorial Hall (Kaseda-shi Heiwa Kinenkan) 3 Ch?me 1955 Banchi Takahashi, Kaseda-shi, Kagoshima-ken Tel: 0933-52-3979 　Please ask the details on the number above. They'd give you information very kindly. (Reference: Pamphlet of Kaseda-shi Peace Memorial Hall) Translated by Mr.Ishiguro

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