Aikoku Kushiro Airfield

Technological obsolescence and replacement. The airfield was rendered obsolete by the opening of the new, modern Kushiro Airport (now RJCK/KUH). The primary reasons for its replacement were: 1) The runway was short and unpaved (gravel), making it unsuitable for the larger and heavier jet aircraft (like the Boeing 727 and Douglas DC-8) that were becoming the standard for domestic travel. 2) The airfield lacked modern navigational aids, such as an Instrument Landing System (ILS), which was a significant problem given Kushiro's frequent dense fog. The new airport was built in a location with better meteorological conditions and with facilities capable of handling the demands of the jet age.

The site of the former Aikoku Kushiro Airfield has been completely redeveloped and is now a suburban neighborhood. There are no visible remnants of the runway, taxiways, or terminal buildings. The land is occupied by residential housing, commercial properties, public facilities including the Kushiro Aikoku Elementary School, and parks. The airport's legacy lives on in the name of the local district, 'Aikoku-chō' (愛国町). The ICAO code 'JP-1656' is a non-official identifier used in some third-party databases (like OurAirports) and flight simulators to denote a closed or historical airfield; it was never an official ICAO code.

Aikoku Kushiro Airfield, known in Japanese as 'Kyū-Kushiro Kūkō' (旧釧路空港 - Old Kushiro Airport) or 'Aikoku Hikōjō' (愛国飛行場 - Patriotism Airfield), was the original airport serving the city of Kushiro and the eastern Hokkaido region. It opened in 1936, initially for use by the Imperial Japanese Army. The name 'Aikoku' (Patriotism) was common for airfields built with public donations during that era. After World War II, it transitioned to civilian use and became a vital transportation hub. It primarily handled piston-engine propeller aircraft, such as the Douglas DC-3. Airlines like North Japan Airlines (a predecessor to Japan Air System, which later merged with JAL) operated scheduled flights, connecting Kushiro with key destinations like Sapporo (Okadama Airport) and Tokyo (Haneda Airport). It was the foundation of air travel for the region until its capabilities were surpassed by modern aviation requirements.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening the airfield. The site is fully developed and integrated into the urban fabric of Kushiro. Furthermore, the region is well-served by the modern and fully-equipped Kushiro Airport (RJCK), which is located approximately 20 km to the west-southwest of the city and is capable of handling all modern passenger and cargo aircraft. Reopening the old airfield is physically, logistically, and economically impossible.