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Yokosuka City is the site of a large naval harbor, which is shared by the U.S. Navy (USN) and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF).  This makes Yokosuka nationally and strategically important, and it is a city which is a key part of Japan's defense and security framework.  Another unique and interesting organization which is located in Yokosuka is the National Defense Academy (NDA).  NDA serves the same function as the U.S. military academies in West Point, Annapolis, and Colorado Springs -- i.e., providing a four-year program of training and education for young prospective commissioned officers.  However, unlike its American counterparts, Japan's NDA combines all services -- air, maritime (navy), and ground (army) -- into one joint school.  NDA was established in Yokosuka in the early-1950s, and it is located on a bluff located above Kannonzaki Park (see link below) which is called "Obara-Dai".  It is said that the leaders of Japan's government decided to build NDA at Yokosuka's Obara-Dai for three reasons: (1) It overlooks the nearby ocean, (2) it is close to the big/famous universities in Tokyo (who sometimes send professors to teach at NDA), and (3) it has a great view of Mount Fuji.  In most other cities in Japan, it is unusual to see uniformed military personnel walking around on the streets and shopping, etc.  However, in Yokosuka, groups of uniformed young NDA cadets, along with USN and JMSDF sailors, are a common sight.  Every year in March, the Prime minister of Japan comes down from Tokyo to Yokosuka to make an important policy speech at NDA's graduation ceremony.  Although NDA is generally closed to the public, it usually holds an "open house" festival/field day in November, and that is a chance to go see this unique and important military institution located in Yokosuka.  In a future article, we provide more information about the November event.       

written by Goodfield

Link：

https://us.iino.cc/blog/blog.html?eid=00091