Airport News Japan

Tokyo's Yoyogi Parade Ground, Site of 1st Powered Flight in Japan, Labeled Important Aviation Heritage

Enlarge Image

Tokyo's Yoyogi Parade Ground, site of 1st powered flight in Japan.

On December 1, the Japan Aeronautic Association in Minato Ward, Tokyo announced that it has designated Yoyogi Parade Ground in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, now known as Yoyogi Park, as a piece of "Important Aviation Heritage" for being the site of Japan's first powered flight in an airplane.

The association created the Important Aviation Heritage designation system in 2007 to recognize aviation heritage of great historical and cultural value, with the purpose of raising public awareness of its significance and passing it on to future generations.

On December 11-20, 1910, the Imperial Japanese Army succeeded in making the first powered flights in Japan at the Yoyogi Parade Ground. The association calls this "the airfield where Japan aviation history began." The decision to recognize the site was made because roads have been paved along the approximate east, west and south edges of what was then designated as the airfield and one can somewhat make out where the old runway lay at Yoyogi Park and Meiji Shrine.

Along with Yoyogi Parade Ground, the association also designated a Navy Type Zero Reconnaissance Seaplane owned by the city of Minamisatsuma in Kagoshima Prefecture as a piece of Important Aviation Heritage.

"Air and Space Exhibition" Commemorating 100 Years of Flight Draws 100K Visitors at Nat'l Museum of Nature and Science106 Years since 1st Powered Flight by Wright Brothers - No Big Events in Japan“100 Years of Flight” Symbol & Design - 100 Years of Powered Flight in Japan