I heard that the Tachiarai Peace Memorial Museum in Chikuzen Town, Kyushu, has a full-scale replica of the Shinden WW2 Japanese fighter, funded by crowdfunding. So, during a temporary return to Japan, I asked a friend to drive me there. Honestly, I’d underestimated it, thinking, “It’s just a replica, right?” But the quality was superb, and above all, the real scale was impressive! It was magnificent. Only later did I learn it had been manufactured for a Godzilla film.
In addition to the Shinden, there are other actual aircraft in Tachiarai. Look! These sharply cut, angular wing tips! I like aeroplanes with square wing tips, so among the Zero fighters, I like this Type 32. Among the Messerschmitts, I like the E model. This is the only genuine Type 32 Zero fighter still in existence in the world. About 40 years ago, it was in Dazaifu, and I visited it with my university friends. I never imagined I would see it again!
Tachiarai was apparently a training base for the Imperial Japanese Army’s Kamikaze attack units. The aircraft used was this Type 97 fighter.
The Tachiarai Peace Memorial Museum was originally an Imperial Japanese Army air force base, and such Bunkers from that era still remain in the surrounding area. They are such solid massive concrete structures that they probably cannot be demolished. As they appear to be on private land, I did not approach and took photographs with a telephoto lens.
I took many photographs, so please view them in the gallery.
Comment