Yashiro Airfield

Economic redevelopment. The city of Kato, which owned the land, decided not to renew the lease for the aviation clubs using the airfield. The site was repurposed to create the 'Hyogo Yashiro Industrial Park' (ひょうご社産業団地) in an effort to attract new businesses, create jobs, and stimulate the local economy.

The site has been completely redeveloped and no longer exists as an airfield. The runway and all aviation-related infrastructure have been removed. It is now the 'Hyogo Yashiro Industrial Park', a large commercial and industrial zone with numerous factories and warehouses. To honor the site's past, a monument called 'Sora no Kinenhi' (空の記念碑 - Monument of the Sky) has been erected nearby. This monument features a full-scale replica of the Shiden-Kai fighter aircraft, commemorating the airfield's important role in Japan's aviation history.

The airfield has a significant history dating back to World War II. It was originally established in 1943 as a private airfield for the Kawanishi Aircraft Company's Yashiro plant. Its primary purpose was for the test flights and ferrying of newly manufactured military aircraft. It is most famously associated with the Kawanishi N1K-J 'Shiden-Kai' (紫電改), one of the best Japanese fighter aircraft of the war, which was tested and flown from this site. After the war, the airfield was converted to civilian use, operating as a private airfield for general aviation. It was particularly popular for glider activities and was often referred to as Yashiro Glider Port (社滑空場), serving aviation enthusiasts and clubs for several decades before its closure.

None. The prospect of reopening is nonexistent. The land has been permanently and completely repurposed for industrial use, with significant infrastructure investment. The original airfield is gone, and there are no known plans or discussions to revert the industrial park back into an aviation facility.