Camp Fuji
Encyclopedia
Combined Arms Training Center (CATC) Camp Fuji is an installation of the United States Marine Corps
and the Japan Ground Self Defense Force. It is located near the town of Gotemba in the Shizuoka Prefecture
of Japan
, at the base of Mount Fuji
. Camp Fuji is one of several Camps of the Marine Corps Base Camp Butler complex.
of the Kamakura Shogunate
conducted military training in this area in the 15th century. In the modern era, the large East Fuji Maneuver Area
was established by the Imperial Japanese Army
as a training facility, and several training bases were established in the area. After the surrender of Japan
at the end of World War II
, these bases were occupied by the United States Army
, and were designated “Camp Fuji McNair”, “North Camp”, “Middle Camp”
, and “South Camp”. Half of “North Camp” was turned over to the United States Marine Corps
(USMC) in 1953, with the other half (across the street from present-day Camp Fuji) was eventually turned over the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
(JGSDF) where it is now JGSDF Camp Takigahara
.
training area. Camp is under the exclusive control of the USMC, although the helicopter
landing pad is a joint-use facility for both the United States and the JGSDF.
Units from across the Pacific (including those participating in the Unit Deployment Program
) come to Camp Fuji to train. The facilities were considered spartan compared to most military bases, with no family housing, limited military exchange
and recreation facilities, and limited medical facilities, although extensive modernization and expansion programs from 1983 have added new barracks, enlisted and officers club, a barber shop, library and food facilities.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and the Japan Ground Self Defense Force. It is located near the town of Gotemba in the Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, at the base of Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji
is the highest mountain in Japan at . An active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and...
. Camp Fuji is one of several Camps of the Marine Corps Base Camp Butler complex.
History
The area around the base of Mount Fuji has been associated with the military since medieval times. The samuraiSamurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
of the Kamakura Shogunate
Kamakura shogunate
The Kamakura shogunate was a military dictatorship in Japan headed by the shoguns from 1185 to 1333. It was based in Kamakura. The Kamakura period draws its name from the capital of the shogunate...
conducted military training in this area in the 15th century. In the modern era, the large East Fuji Maneuver Area
East Fuji Maneuver Area
is the major training grounds for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force on Honshū, Japan. It is one of several military facilities located in the foothills of Mount Fuji and extends over parts of Gotemba, Susono and Oyama, in Shizuoka Prefecture...
was established by the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
as a training facility, and several training bases were established in the area. After the surrender of Japan
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
at the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, these bases were occupied by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, and were designated “Camp Fuji McNair”, “North Camp”, “Middle Camp”
JGSDF Camp Itazuma
is a military base of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, located in Gotemba, Shizuoka prefecture, Japan. It is one of several military facilities located in the foothills of Mount Fuji.-History:...
, and “South Camp”. Half of “North Camp” was turned over to the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
(USMC) in 1953, with the other half (across the street from present-day Camp Fuji) was eventually turned over the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
The , or JGSDF, is the army of Japan. The largest of the three services of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the Ground Self-Defense Force operates under the command of the chief of the ground staff, based in the city of Ichigaya, Tokyo. The present chief of ground staff is General Yoshifumi Hibako...
(JGSDF) where it is now JGSDF Camp Takigahara
JGSDF Camp Takigahara
is a military base of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, located in Gotemba, Shizuoka prefecture, Japan. It is one of several military facilities located in the foothills of Mount Fuji, and is located across a road from the United States Marine Corps Camp Fuji....
.
Description
The 309 acres (1.3 km²) facility includes 34 acres (137,593.2 m²) of ranges and maneuver area to serve as a combined armsCombined arms
Combined arms is an approach to warfare which seeks to integrate different branches of a military to achieve mutually complementary effects...
training area. Camp is under the exclusive control of the USMC, although the helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
landing pad is a joint-use facility for both the United States and the JGSDF.
Units from across the Pacific (including those participating in the Unit Deployment Program
Unit Deployment Program
To reduce the number of unaccompanied tours and improve unit continuity, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, established the Unit Deployment Program to provide for the deployment of units to the Western Pacific for periods of approximately six months...
) come to Camp Fuji to train. The facilities were considered spartan compared to most military bases, with no family housing, limited military exchange
Base exchange
A Base Exchange is a type of retail store operating on United States military installations worldwide...
and recreation facilities, and limited medical facilities, although extensive modernization and expansion programs from 1983 have added new barracks, enlisted and officers club, a barber shop, library and food facilities.
See also
- List of United States Marine Corps installations
- United States Forces JapanUnited States Forces JapanThe refers to the various divisions of the United States Armed Forces that are stationed in Japan. Under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, the United States is obliged to defend Japan in close cooperation with the Japan Self-Defense Forces for...