Koniya Naval Airfield

The surrender of Japan at the end of World War II, leading to the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese military and the dismantling of its bases under the Allied occupation.

The site of the former naval airbase has been completely redeveloped and is now unrecognizable as an airfield. The area is occupied by the modern Koniya Fishing Port (古仁屋漁港), ferry terminals, commercial businesses, and residential parts of the town of Setouchi. There are no visible remnants of the original military infrastructure like hangars or seaplane ramps, though a monument dedicated to the Koniya Naval Air Group exists in the town to commemorate its history.

Koniya Naval Airfield was a strategic seaplane base for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. Established around 1941, it was home to the Koniya Naval Air Group (古仁屋海軍航空隊, Koniya Kaigun Kōkūtai). Its primary missions included maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, and the defense of the Nansei (Ryukyu) Islands. Due to its location in a deep, sheltered bay, it was ideal for operating various seaplanes, such as the Mitsubishi F1M 'Pete' and Aichi E13A 'Jake'. In the final year of the war, particularly during the Battle of Okinawa, it served as a critical forward base for staging and refueling special attack (Kamikaze) units heading towards the Allied fleet. The base was a frequent target of U.S. air raids in 1945.

None. The site is fully integrated into civilian urban and port infrastructure. Modern air services for Amami Ōshima island are provided by the land-based Amami Airport (IATA: ASJ, ICAO: RJKA), located on the northern part of the island. There is no practical, economic, or logistical reason to re-establish an airfield at this location.