BLOG

There is a large U.S. Navy base located in Yokosuka City. It is officially called: Commander Fleet Activities, Yokosuka, or CFAY for short. CFAY is located on the east coast of Yokosuka, facing Tokyo Bay, and the harbor area is shared between U.S. Navy and Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). CFAY has existed for over 77 years, and during that time, strong economic and community ties have been built-up with the government and people of Yokosuka. However, relations with the U.S. Navy actually began much earlier, way back in the middle of the 19th century, when Commodore Matthew Perry and the "Black Ships" visited Yokosuka on a mission to start-up relations between Japan and America. Japan, under the Tokugawa Shogun government, had closed itself off from international relations for over 250 years, and the U.S. Navy squadron commanded by Perry delivered a letter from President Millard Filmore which requested that a treaty of commerce be signed, among other things. The black-colored U.S. Navy ships first arrived offshore Yokosuka's Uraga District on June 8, 1853; and then on July 14th, Commodore Perry and American sailors and marines landed on Japanese soil, for the first time, on a beach in Yokosuka's Kurihama District. These visits made a huge public impact and came to be known as "the opening of Japan" (開国), causing the country to modernize and industrialize, etc. Nowadays there is a park in Kurihama which is located next to the beach where the landing occurred. The park contains a large stone monument (erected in 1901) and a small museum which commemorate the historic U.S. navy visit to Yokosuka. Every year during July, a colorful festival, with a large fireworks display, is also held at Kurihama beach, which has remained relatively unchanged over the years. We hope that you may be able to visit the park and Kurihama while you live here.

written by Goodfield