JGSDF Camp Zama, 神奈川県にある陸上自衛隊の駐屯地
JGSDF Camp Zama is a garrison in Sagamihara, jointly used by the U.S. Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The grounds are made up of concrete office and residential buildings arranged across open land near the Sagami River.
The site was originally established as the Imperial Japanese Military Academy, which moved here in 1937 and was known as Sobu-dai. After Japan's defeat in 1945, the United States took over the grounds and turned them into an American military installation.
Camp Zama has long brought together American and Japanese military personnel on the same grounds, creating a daily life that mixes both cultures visibly. Signs, shops, and facilities on the base reflect American standards, while the surrounding city of Sagamihara remains distinctly Japanese.
Access to the base is strictly controlled, and anyone entering must show a valid photo identification at the gate. Visitors without military credentials need to be sponsored by an authorized person on the base before they can enter.
The base contains an 18-hole golf course and a fishing pond called Dewey Park, which are open to residents and authorized visitors. These recreational spots sit on what was once the training ground of the Japanese Imperial Military Academy, a contrast that few people stop to consider.
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