No.71 Partial Return of Tama Service Subsidy Facility

On August 31, 2017, a part of the Tama Service Auxiliary Facility was returned.
The land returned this time has been designated for joint use based on the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, and it is an area for which the city has received usage permission. The breakdown is as follows.

1. Omaru 1966-2, Inagi City, approximately 4,200 square meters (used as a parking lot since October 1995 as part of Omaru Park)
2. Omaru 1962-1 and others, approximately 4,700 square meters (used as a walking path south of the City Hospital since July 2006 as Omaru Nature Park)

The city has requested the return of the entire Tama Service Subsidy Facility through the Minami-Tama New Town Council (composed of Hachioji City, Machida City, Hino City, Tama City, and Inagi City) up to now.
However, based on the responses from previous years, it has been indicated that a full return at this time is difficult, so we have proposed the promotion of joint use as a temporary measure leading up to that.
This return was made possible by a request from the American side, but it is believed to be partially realized due to the results of long-standing requests made over the years.
However, these lands were acquired by the military from the original landowners through purchase and other means, so even if they are returned, they will not come back to Inagi City. They will become national land managed by the Ministry of Finance, but for the time being, they will be able to be used as they are. Until now, we have been using them with permission for joint use from the U.S. military, but in the future, we will consult with the Ministry of Finance to ensure that they can continue to be used for their traditional purposes.
By the way, the Tama Service Auxiliary Facility, which is currently a recreational facility under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Yokota Air Base, was originally the former Imperial Army's Tama Arsenal. This facility served as the backdrop for the novel "THE LEGACY OF THE SUN" written by author Jiro Asada, which was adapted into a film in 2011. As part of the city's 40th anniversary of municipal administration, a preview screening of "THE LEGACY OF THE SUN" and a lecture by the original author Jiro Asada were held at i Plaza in Wakabadai in August of that year.
The setting of this work, Musashi-Kodama City, is modeled after Inagi City, and the Army Tama Arsenal is currently the Tama Service Auxiliary Facility. Therefore, there are opinions suggesting that this could be developed as THE LEGACY OF THE SUN Memorial Park in light of this return. However, the area being returned this time is a small section south of the City Hospital, and the old ammunition depot that served as the setting for this novel is located much further to the west, making it difficult to realize this with the current return.
The city will continue to seek the return of the main body of the Tama City Service Subsidy Facility, and until that is realized, we will request further promotion of joint use and initiatives to facilitate visits to war relics, including the former ammunition depot.