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Remains of
kaiten launch building
at Ōtsushima Island
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Museums - Lists
The following lists relate to the 17 Japanese museums reviewed on this
web site.
Most Influential
This list ranks Japanese museums based on their
influence on people's perceptions of the Special Attack Corps.
The following factors were used to develop the ranking: number of
visitors, books about museum and its exhibits, mention in mass media,
historical importance of museum's location, references in books, appearance
in films, international influence, and museum web site.
- Chiran Peace Museum for
Kamikaze Pilots
- Yasukuni Jinja Yūshūkan
- Yamato Museum
- Kanoya Naval Air Base Museum
- Kaiten Memorial Museum
- Bansei Tokkō Peace Museum
- Hotaru Museum
- Etajima Museum of Naval History
- Tsukuba Naval Air Group Museum
- Usa City Peace Museum
- Yokaren Museum - Tsuchiura
- Tachiarai Peace Museum
- Wadatsumi no Koe Museum
- Tokushima Air Base Museum
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Atata Exchange Center
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Kamikaze Special Attack Museum
- Yokaren Museum - Oita
The Imperial Japanese Army and Navy had separate traditions and
maintained an intense rivalry. As a result, except for the Yasukuni Jinja
Yūshūkan and Wadatsumi no Koe Museum, individual museums cover the history of special attack forces of
only the Army or Navy.
Army Special Attack Forces
Navy Special Attack Forces
Both Army and Navy
Location by Prefecture
Seven museums are located on Japan's southernmost main island of Kyūshū,
where most Special Attack Corps pilots departed for attacks on Allied ships near
Okinawa. Fukuoka, Kagoshima, and Ōita are prefectures in Kyūshū. Kagoshima
Prefecture, the southernmost prefecture in Kyūshū, had several sortie bases
for Special Attack Corps pilots, and seven museums are located there.
- Ehime Prefecture
- Fukuoka Prefecture
- Hiroshima Prefecture
- Ibaraki Prefecture
- Kagoshima Prefecture
- Ōita Prefecture
- Tokushima Prefecture
- Tokyo Prefecture
- Yamaguchi Prefecture
Special Attack Planes and Other Weapons
Several museums display restored planes or other weapons used in suicide
attacks. The kaiten (manned torpedo) displayed in front of the Kaiten
Memorial Museum is a full-size model. The Zeros at the Chiran Peace Museum and
Bansei
Tokkō Peace Museum have
not been completely restored. The museums at Kanoya, Chiran, and Tachiarai
also display planes used after the end of the war.
Most Scenic Locations
Each of the first two museums is located on a small island in the Inland Sea
and can be reached by a short ferry trip. Chiran is located in a picturesque
rural area, and the town has several former samurai houses with traditional
gardens. Both Yasukuni Jinja and the Chiran Peace Museum have nearby
areas that are especially beautiful during cherry blossom season.
- Kaiten Memorial Museum
- Etajima Museum of Naval History
- Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots
- Hotaru Museum
- Yamato Museum
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