横須賀・三笠記念艦－Yokosuka・Memorial Ship Mikasa - one of the key player of the Russo-Japanese War (May. 2019-No.20）

横須賀・三笠記念艦－Yokosuka・Memorial Ship Mikasa - one of the key players of the Russo-Japanese War

Yokosuka is located in Kanagawa prefecture southwest of Tokyo. It takes about an hour to get there from Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station by JR Line or Keihin Kyuko Line. The population of the city is about 400,000, and the most important thing is that there is the base of the US navy 7th fleet in this city, which boasts the largest scale and the strongest force in the US navy. Originally this city is located in the entrance of Tokyo Bay, so it is a important place to defend Tokyo against attacks from sea. The Meiji government built a main navy port of the Great Empire of Japan in 1884.

If you walk around the center of Yokosuka city, you will see many the US military persons wearing camouflage uniforms and sailors of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces wearing sailor suits. They all look brave and sturdy.

If you walk about 20 minutes from Yokosuka Cyuo Staition of Keihin Kyuko Line toward the seashore, you can see Memorial Ship Mikasa. Mikasa was a battle ship built by Vickers of UK in 1902, and its full length was 131.7m and the displacement was 15,140t. It was one of biggest battle ships in the world at that time, although Japan just began the modernization by the Meiji Restoration in 1868.

And the Russo-Japanese War began in 1904, Tsushima Offshore Battle decided Japan's victory of this war. Mikasa took part in this naval battle as the flagship which Admiral Togo was on board.

This museum exhibits many items of this ship such as a bedroom for sailors, a bathroom, Admiral's room, refreshment rooms, including the explanations of world situation at that time. You will probably be satisfied with quality and quantity of exhibitions and you can feel the spirit of the Meiji era just like the Rising Sun. Admiral Togo promoted a fleet admiral, and was respected just like a deity. But he was at a later called the walking big-ship, big-gun advocator in naval warfare. Success is the source of failure.

This ship had a checkered jhistory, and now take a rest quietly as if watching Japan and the world. This day was a calm, mild day, and many family groups came to this museum. Peace is precious.

the main street of Yokosuka city - there are many the US tastes everywhere. especially the Dobu-Ita street is very famous for its American atomosphere.

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