Kuroki Seaplane Base

The precise reason for the cessation of activities is unknown, largely because the facility does not appear to have been a formally established and continuously operated airport. The 'closure' was likely a discontinuation of use. This could be attributed to several factors common to such sites: the establishment of more reliable conventional air and sea transport to the Oki Islands (specifically, the opening of Oki Airport in 1965), a lack of economic viability for a dedicated seaplane service to this specific bay, or the conclusion of a temporary or specialized operation that used the site.

The site, located in Kuroki Bay on the western coast of Nishinoshima, is currently used as a small fishing port and is adjacent to a residential community. Satellite imagery and local maps show port infrastructure for small boats, sea walls, and local roads, but no remaining evidence or dedicated infrastructure of a seaplane base.

The designation 'Kuroki Seaplane Base' refers to a water landing area in Kuroki Bay (黒木湾) on Nishinoshima. Its historical significance appears to be minimal, as there are no official records of it being a major military installation or a hub for scheduled commercial flights. The ICAO code 'JP-1816' is not an official ICAO identifier but a sequential code used by non-governmental aviation databases to catalog smaller, unofficial, or historical airfields that lack a formal code. It is plausible that the sheltered bay was used intermittently by private or governmental seaplanes for transport or surveying missions before the development of modern infrastructure on the island. However, it was never a formally constructed 'base' with hangars, a terminal, or a dedicated ramp.

There are no known official plans or prospects for reopening or re-establishing a seaplane base at Kuroki Bay. Modern air access to the Oki Islands is centered around Oki Airport (OKI/RJNO) on the nearby Dōgo Island, with ferry services connecting to Nishinoshima. Additionally, Nishinoshima has its own heliport (Oki Nishinoshima Airport, ICAO: RJOS) which is used for inter-island transport and emergency medical services. Given these existing transportation links, the development of a new seaplane service at this location is highly unlikely.