We drove our car under the guide of the car navigation to Masuda Tracking and Communication Station and found a monument showing us that we were already in the area of the former air station. Viewing around, I knew the terrain was almost flat. The construction of the air station was apparently stopped by the defeat of the war, but the creation of land seemed to be completed. The area was covered with a vast grassy plain and if we didn't read the description, we'd not notice that we were in the area of the former air station. I wanted to visit some other places on the map, but we had other plans and went back to the town. The calligraphy on the monument was produced by Mr. Minoru Genda, who was a famous fighter pilot and also a member of the House of Representatives after the war.
The Masuda Tracking and Communication Station has an exhibition space for visitors, but it was closed to avoid three conditions that facilitate the transmission of infectious diseases; closed spaces, crowds, and close contact. We were really infuriated against the Wuhan virus.
(Vocabulary)
creation of land 造成工事
九州海軍航空隊種子島基地史跡と増田宇宙通信所
ナビに従い増田宇宙通信所を目指して進むと基地跡を示す碑があった。なんのことはない、通信所自体が旧種子島基地にあった。周りを見た渡すと確かに平らになっている。滑走路建設は敗戦により中断したとのことだが、平らな土地の造成までは出来ていたようだ。一面草原になっており、説明がなければ滑走路だったとは気がつきにくい。看板にある説明を読んで、他の基地跡にもあちこち巡ってみたかったが、後の予定があるためここから引き返した。碑文の揮毫はあの源田實氏だった。
通信所は本来はその機能を説明した展示室があるのだが、武漢ウイルスのため休館中。本当に忌々しいウイルスだ。
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