Key Facts
• 1944: Construction of Yanagimoto Airfield began in Nara Prefecture, covering 300 hectares.
• 1945: Yamato Naval Air Corps was established; airfield’s wartime use remains unclear.
• 1995: Tenri City and its education board installed a plaque detailing forced labor history.
• 2014: Plaque removed after 19 years due to public complaints about the term “forced mobilization.”
• 2,000–3,000 Koreans reportedly forced into labor; no corroborating official documents found.
• 1990s: Local educators created materials to address discrimination against Korean residents.
• 2019: Advocacy group installed a new plaque on private land near the airfield site.
• 2025: Remaining metal pillars symbolize divided historical perspectives and local government challenges.
Summary
The Yanagimoto Airfield in Tenri City, Nara Prefecture, built during WWII, became a focal point of historical debate. Initially commemorated with a plaque in 1995, the site highlighted forced labor involving 2,000–3,000 Koreans. However, in 2014, the city removed the plaque following public objections to the term “forced mobilization.” This decision sparked criticism, with advocates arguing it undermined efforts to confront Japan’s wartime history. Despite the removal, local educators and activists continue to promote awareness through fieldwork and new plaques. The remaining pillars at the site now symbolize the ongoing divide in historical recognition and the challenges faced by local authorities.
