“Explosions reported at US military facility in Japan” read the headline back in August 2015. That military facility was Sagami General Depot. Today we will explore the history of this important site. Sagami General Depot stands in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture. It is about 40 km southwest of Tokyo. This US Army post has a rich and complex past.
Sagami General Depot dates back to 1935. It began as the Sixth Arsenal of the Japanese Imperial Army. Colonel Ikeda oversaw it as a branch of the Tokyo First Army Arsenal. In 1936, it became an independent entity. It was then renamed Sagami Army Arsenal. Its main purpose was to produce armaments. It primarily manufactured tanks for the Japanese Army.
Sagami General Depot also served as a test bed. It was used for developing the massive 120-ton “O-I” experimental heavy tank. Additionally, it was involved in creating balloon incendiary devices. These devices were launched from Chiba by Japanese forces. Their mission was to ignite fires on the US West Coast.
In September 1945, the US Army’s 5th Cavalry Regiment occupied Sagami. The installation then played a vital role. It supported US forces during the Korean War. However, operations scaled back in 1957. The U.S. Army Supply and Maintenance Activity was inactivated after the Vietnam War. This activity had maintained and repaired heavy equipment and tanks.
Today, Sagami General Depot continues its service. It functions as a US Army logistics and supply facility. It continues to honor its commitment to Japan’s defense. From 1935 to the end of World War II, it was known as the Sagami Army Arsenal. Mitsubishi developed and manufactured tanks here for the Imperial Japanese Army.
In September 2015, some land was returned to Japan. This included a former housing area. A portion of this land was designated for joint use. On August 24, 2015, explosions occurred at the depot. These happened in a storage building. The building contained tanks of nitrogen, Freon, oxygen, and compressed air.
Sagami General Depot is home to several important units. These include the 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. It also houses the Defense Commissary Agency Central Distribution Center. In addition, it hosts the Defense Logistics Agency for US forces in Japan. The Army Medical Storage is also located here.
The 128th Station Hospital had an important beginning here. On September 26, 1945, it accepted the surrender. It took the surrender of the Japanese Military Hospital at Sagami-Ono. It became the first US Army Hospital in Japan. The 128th admitted its first American patient on October 13, 1945.
Sagami General Depot reflects a history of transformation. From an Imperial Japanese Army Arsenal to a vital US Army logistics hub, it has played a significant role in both wartime and peacetime. It stands as a symbol of the evolving relationship between the United States and Japan. It shows their mutual commitment to defense and regional stability.