Sagami (Nakatsu) Airfield

The airfield was closed as a direct result of Japan's surrender at the end of World War II. As a key facility of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service, its military function ceased with the dissolution of the Japanese armed forces. The site was subsequently taken over by Allied occupation forces before being returned to the Japanese government for civilian redevelopment.

The former airfield site has been completely redeveloped and is now the Kanagawa Prefecture Inland Industrial Park (神奈川県内陸工業団地, Kanagawa-ken Nairiku Kōgyō Danchi). This is one of the largest industrial zones in the prefecture, hosting numerous factories and logistics centers for major companies, particularly in the automotive and manufacturing sectors. The original layout of the airfield is partially preserved in the road network of the industrial park; a long, straight central road clearly follows the path of the main runway.

Officially known as the Imperial Japanese Army Sagami Airfield (陸軍相模飛行場, Rikugun Sagami Hikōjō), it was a major airbase for the IJA. Constructed in the late 1930s, it served several critical functions:

1. **Pilot Training:** It was a primary training center, closely associated with the Imperial Japanese Army Air Academy (Rikugun Kōkū Shikan Gakkō).
2. **Air Defense:** The airfield was a vital base for the 10th Air Division, which was responsible for the air defense of the Kantō region, including Tokyo and Yokohama. It hosted fighter units, such as those flying the Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien ('Tony') and Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa ('Oscar'), tasked with intercepting Allied bomber raids.
3. **Testing and Development:** It was also used for testing new aircraft and equipment.

After Japan's surrender, it was briefly controlled by the U.S. Army before being identified for redevelopment due to its strategic location for industry.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening the site as an airfield. The area is now densely packed with critical industrial infrastructure, factories, and warehouses. Reverting the land to aviation use would be economically and logistically impossible, requiring the demolition of a major industrial hub.