Yokaren Peace Memorial Museum
Ami Town in Ibaraki Prefecture has had a deep connection with Japan’s modern aviation and military history since the late Taishō period. At that time, one of the largest aviation bases in the East — the Kasumigaura Naval Air Corps — was established here, laying the foundation for the development of the Imperial Japanese Navy's aviation forces. In 1939 (Shōwa 14), the Naval Preparatory Flight Training Department (Yokaren), originally located in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, was relocated to Ami. The following year, the Tsuchiura Naval Air Corps was established specifically to oversee Yokaren training, making Ami a key site for training naval aviators.
As the center of naval preparatory flight education, Ami played a symbolically significant military role during the Shōwa era and came to be known as the "Town of the Navy." This history left a strong imprint of military culture on the region and secured Ami’s place in Japan's modern history. The land and memories of Ami bear the deep scars of war while also embodying hopes for peace.
To preserve and pass on this history and its lessons, Ami Town established the Yokaren Peace Memorial Museum. The museum primarily exhibits valuable materials and artifacts related to Yokaren, as well as records of wartime experiences. Through its permanent exhibitions and educational programs, the museum helps visitors understand the history of Japan's military education while encouraging reflection on the value of life and the importance of peace.
