Tsukuba Naval Airfield

The initial closure as an active naval airfield was a direct result of the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service after Japan's defeat in World War II. The subsequent full decommissioning by the JSDF was due to the consolidation of military facilities and the site's repurposing for civilian use.

The site has been extensively redeveloped and no longer functions as an airfield; the runways have been removed. However, key historical buildings have been preserved. The former headquarters and command post building now houses the 'Tsukuba Naval Air Corps Memorial Hall' (筑波海軍航空隊記念館), a museum dedicated to the history of the base and its personnel, with a particular focus on the Kamikaze pilots. Other parts of the former airfield are now occupied by the Ibaraki Prefectural Police Driving License Center and training grounds, as well as some industrial and agricultural land.

Established in 1938, the Tsukuba Naval Airfield was a major training base for the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS). It was primarily used for training fighter pilots, including those who would fly the Mitsubishi A6M Zero. In the final stages of the Pacific War, the airfield gained grim significance as it became a key base for organizing and launching Kamikaze (Special Attack) units. The 'Tsukuba Special Attack Corps' was formed here, and many pilots departed from this airfield on their final missions. The site has gained renewed public interest due to its prominent feature in the 2013 Japanese war drama film 'The Eternal Zero' (永遠の0, Eien no Zero), which depicted the lives of pilots based at the airfield.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the site as an airport. The land has been completely repurposed for historical preservation, civil administration (police facilities), and commercial use. The focus is on its role as a historical site and memorial, not on a return to aviation operations.