Kumanosho Airfield

Relocation and obsolescence. The airfield, then known as Kumamoto Airport, was closed upon the opening of the new, larger Kumamoto Airport (RJFT) in the neighboring town of Mashiki on April 1, 1971. The primary reasons for the relocation were the Kumanosho runway's insufficient length (approximately 1,200 meters) to safely accommodate larger jet aircraft like the Boeing 727 and Douglas DC-8, which were becoming standard for domestic trunk routes. Furthermore, the rapid urbanization around the airfield prevented any possibility of runway extension and led to increasing noise complaints from the surrounding residential areas.

The site of the former Kumanosho Airfield has been completely redeveloped and is now an integrated part of Kumamoto City's urban landscape. The original runway's path has been converted into a major multi-lane arterial road, part of Kumamoto Prefectural Route 36, which is still colloquially known as 'Kūkō-dōri' (空港通り, Airport Road). The surrounding land that once formed the apron, taxiways, and terminal area is now occupied by a dense mix of public facilities (such as the Kumamoto City Higashi Ward Office and the Kengun Health and Welfare Center), commercial properties (supermarkets, restaurants, shops), and extensive residential housing, including numerous apartment complexes. There are no visible remnants of the airport infrastructure itself, apart from the straight and flat alignment of the main road.

Kumanosho Airfield has a significant dual history as both a military and a civilian facility.

**Military History (1944-1945):** It was originally established in December 1944 by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force as Kumanosho Army Airfield (隈庄陸軍飛行場, Kumanoshō Rikugun Hikōjō). During the final stages of World War II, it served as a training base and an operational airfield, notably used as a sortie base for kamikaze special attack units targeting Allied naval forces during the Battle of Okinawa.

**Civilian History (1960-1971):** After the war, the airfield was repurposed for civilian use. It officially opened as Kumamoto Airport (IATA: KMJ, ICAO: RJFG) on September 1, 1960. For over a decade, it was the primary air gateway for Kumamoto Prefecture, playing a crucial role in the region's post-war economic development. It handled scheduled domestic flights by major carriers like All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Toa Airways (TDA), connecting Kumamoto with major hubs such as Tokyo (Haneda) and Osaka (Itami). Operations primarily involved turboprop aircraft like the Vickers Viscount and Fokker F27 Friendship, and later, early short-haul jets like the Boeing 737.

There are zero prospects for the airfield to reopen. The land has been irreversibly redeveloped into a high-density urban area for over 50 years. The region's aviation needs are fully and effectively served by the current Kumamoto Airport (KMJ/RJFT), which features a 3,000-meter runway and modern facilities capable of handling large international aircraft.