Utsubo Airfield

End of the Allied Occupation of Japan and subsequent urban redevelopment. The airfield was a U.S. military facility requisitioned after WWII. With the end of the occupation in 1952 (following the Treaty of San Francisco), the land was returned to the City of Osaka. The city chose to redevelop the valuable central land into a public space for its citizens rather than continue its use as an airfield, especially as major air operations had been consolidated at Itami Airport.

The site was completely redeveloped and is now Utsubo Park (靭公園, Utsubo Kōen), a large and popular public park in central Osaka. The park's distinct long and narrow shape is a direct legacy of the former runway's layout. The park is well-known for its beautiful rose garden, zelkova tree-lined paths, and the Utsubo Tennis Center, a major facility that has hosted international professional tennis tournaments.

The airfield was originally established by the Imperial Japanese Army. Its most significant period was from 1945 to 1952, after the end of World War II. During the Allied Occupation of Japan, it was taken over by the General Headquarters of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (GHQ/SCAP) and operated by the U.S. military, primarily the U.S. Fifth Air Force. It served as a key transportation and logistics hub for occupation forces in the Kansai region, handling both personnel and cargo flights. It was effectively the main airfield for Osaka during this period before operations were fully centralized at Itami Airport. The ICAO code 'JP-2011' is a non-standard, historical, or database-specific identifier and not an official ICAO code (which for Japan start with 'RJ').

None. The site is a major, well-established urban park surrounded by dense commercial and residential high-rise buildings. There are no plans, discussions, or realistic prospects for it to ever be converted back into an airfield. Its role as a vital green space in the city is permanently established.