Susaki Airstrip

Military decommissioning. The airstrip was an Imperial Japanese Navy airbase that ceased all operations following the surrender of Japan at the end of World War II. It was never converted for civilian use after the war.

The site of the former airstrip has been completely redeveloped for civilian use. The land where the runway and facilities once stood is now occupied by essential island infrastructure, including the Ogasawara Village Office, a community center, a Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) power plant, the Ogasawara Driving School, and residential housing. There are no visible remnants of the original airstrip.

The Susaki Airstrip was a strategically important military airbase for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Constructed in the 1930s on Chichijima Island, it was central to the defense of the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands. The base housed fighter and reconnaissance aircraft used for patrols and to intercept Allied bombers. It was a frequent target of American air raids during the Pacific campaign, particularly in the lead-up to and during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Its operational history is exclusively military and ended with the conclusion of the war.

There are no plans to reopen the original Susaki Airstrip, as the site is fully developed. However, there is a long-standing and highly controversial proposal by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to construct a new airport on Chichijima to improve access to the remote islands (currently only accessible by a 24-hour ferry). The proposed site is near the location of the former airfield but would require extensive and environmentally disruptive construction, including leveling part of a mountain. This plan faces significant opposition from conservation groups due to the Ogasawara Islands' status as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, and its future remains uncertain and under review.