Itabashi Airfield

Military defeat and obsolescence. The airfield ceased operations at the end of World War II following Japan's surrender. After being briefly taken over by Allied occupation forces, it was deemed unsuitable for modern, larger aircraft due to its location on a flood-prone riverbed and relatively short runways. The land was subsequently returned to the Japanese government for civilian redevelopment.

The site of the former airfield has been completely redeveloped and shows no visible traces of its aviation past. The area, located on the Arakawa River flood plain, is now a large public park and recreational complex called Arakawa Todabashi Ryokuchi (Arakawa Todabashi Green Space). It features numerous baseball diamonds, soccer fields, a golf course, and public green space. A stone monument commemorating the historic 'Kamikaze-go' flight stands within the park, marking the approximate location of its departure.

Itabashi Airfield, known in Japanese as Itabashi Hikōjō (板橋飛行場), was a significant pre-war and WWII-era airfield for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAS). Established in the 1930s, it served as a key base for the air defense of Tokyo, housing fighter units equipped with aircraft like the Ki-44 'Shoki'. Its most famous historical event occurred on April 6, 1937, when it served as the departure point for the 'Kamikaze-go' (神風号), a Mitsubishi Ki-15 prototype aircraft. Sponsored by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, the 'Kamikaze-go' completed a record-breaking flight to London in 94 hours, 17 minutes, and 56 seconds, a major achievement for Japanese aviation at the time.

Zero. There are no plans or prospects for reopening the airfield. The area is now a vital, densely-used public park and flood control plain within the Tokyo metropolitan area. Re-establishing an airport is physically, politically, and economically impossible.