Location
Osaka is second largest city in Japan, located in Osaka Prefecture in the Kansai Region of Honshū in Japan.

Wartime History
During the Pacific War, Osaka was a vital military center in the Kansai region.  In 1944 all third - six graders were evacuated from the city. Students above third year middle school and high school girls were mobilized to work in the munitions factories.

American missions against Osaka
March 13, 1945–July 19, 1945

Osaka Peace Museum
This museum deals with the war history of Osaka. It tells the history of the Second World War, with a focus on the B-29 Superfortress fire bombings of the city.

Osaka Army Arsenal (Osaka Artillery Arsenal)
Located to the east of Osaka Castle. The largest munitions factory in Japan, occupying 1.18 square kilometers and employed 64,000 employees at its peak, including factory workers, mobilized students, women's volunteer corps and Korean workers.

Municipal Museum (Osaka Air Defense HQ)
Located at Tennoji Park. Army HQ for Osaka city anti-aircraft and artillery command, directing the city's 207 anti-aircraft guns, 100+ automatic weapons and 88 searchlights.

Osaka Jo (Osaka Castle)
To the east of Osaka castle was the Osaka Army Arsenal, ther largest munitions factory in Japan, and employing 64,000 at its height including women's volunteers, students and drafted Japanese and Koreans. As the war progressed, private factories had to sub-contract work to meet demands. Other important installations in the vicinity of the castle were the Chubu Military District HQ, 4th Division HQ, and barracks of the 8th and 37th Infantry Regiments.

Osaka City Museum Building (Army 4th Divisional HQ)
Build in 1931, as the Japanese Army's 4th Divisional HQ using funds raised from the general public in celebration of the enthronement of Emperor Showa. Modeled after a European castle. After the war it was used by the Osaka Police Department. From 1960 to 2001 it was the Osaka City Museum. Today, it is the Osaka Museum of History since November 2001.

Kawanishi Konan Plant
Wartime aircraft factory located at Osaka

Shinodayama Military Parade Ground
Located at Shinodayama. At this location, two POW crew members of B-29 "Indian Maid" 42-24809 Fitzegerald and Kennedy were executed.

Itami Airfield
Wartime airfield north of Osaka

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Last Updated
October 23, 2019