No.71 Partial return of Tama service auxiliary facilities

On August 31, 2017, part of the Tama Service Auxiliary Facility was returned.
The returned land is an area that the city has previously received permission to use due to its status as joint use based on the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, and the breakdown is as follows.
(1) 1966-2 Daimaru, Inagi City, etc., approximately 4,200 square meters in area (used as a parking lot since October 1995 as part of Daimaru Park)
(2) 1962-1 Daimaru, Inagi City, etc., with an area of ​​approximately 4,700 square meters (used as Daimaru Nature Park since July 2006 for the walking path on the south side of the City Hospital)
The city has requested the return of the entire Tama service auxiliary facility through the Minamitama New Town Council (composed of Hachioji City, Machida City, Hino City, Tama City, and Inagi City) and other organizations.
However, in previous years, the response was that it would be difficult to fully return the property at this time, so we have proposed promoting joint use as an interim measure.
This return was realized in response to a request from the American side, but it appears that it was partially realized as a result of requests made over many years.
However, since these lands were acquired by the military from the original landowners through acquisitions, etc., the return does not mean that they will return to Inagi City. It will become state-owned land managed by the Ministry of Finance, but for the time being it will be able to be used as is. Until now, we have received permission for joint use from the U.S. military, but from now on, we will discuss with the Ministry of Finance so that it can continue to be used for its conventional purpose.
By the way, the Tama Service Auxiliary Facility, which is currently a recreational facility under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Yokota Air Base, was originally the Tama Gunpowder Factory, a former Army Pyrotechnics Factory. Author Jiro Asada wrote the novel ``Inheritance of the Sun'' set in this facility, which was made into a movie in 2011. In August of the same year, as part of the city's 40th anniversary commemoration project, the city held a preview screening of Nihon's heritage and a lecture by the original author, Jiro Asada, at i-Plaza in Wakabadai.
Musashi-Kodama City, the setting for this work, is modeled after Inagi City, and the Army Tama Fire Arsenal is the current Tama Service Auxiliary Facility. For this reason, some have suggested that the return of the land should be used as an opportunity to develop it into a heritage memorial park. However, the part that has been returned this time is a small area on the south side of the city hospital, and the old ammunition depot that is the setting for this novel is located far to the west, so I think it will be difficult to realize this through this return. .
The city will continue to request the return of the Tama Service Auxiliary Facility itself, and until that is realized, we will request further promotion of joint use and promotion of tours of war remains, including the former ammunition depot. Masu.