 Last additions - Yamato Museum (Kure Maritime Museum) 呉市海事歴史科学館 大和ミュージアム |
Battleship Mutsu plaque. After seeing the Yamato Museum, be sure to cross the street over to the submarine museum called the JMSDF (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force) Kure Museum.Jan 20, 2013
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41-cm diameter gun from Battleship Mutsu, outside the Yamato Museum. Until the Yamato was built, the Mutsu was Japan's largest battleship.Jan 20, 2013
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Gun shellsJan 20, 2013
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Japanese Zero fighter cockpit.Jan 20, 2013
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Japanese Zero fighter.Jan 20, 2013
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About midget submarines.Jan 20, 2013
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Midget submarine cockpit.Jan 20, 2013
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Midget submarine cockpit.Jan 20, 2013
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Midget submarine.Jan 20, 2013
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Another large exhibition room had a Japanese Zero fighter plane, kaiten manned torpedo, and midget submarine.Jan 20, 2013
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Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto's connection with Kure. On the bridge of the Yamato, he commanded the fleet at the Battle of Midway.Jan 20, 2013
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One exhibition room has a model of the Battleship Yamato wreck.Jan 20, 2013
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Rudder and propellers of Battleship Yamato.Jan 20, 2013
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Propellers of Battleship Yamato.Jan 20, 2013
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Sample wood paneling used for the model deck.Jan 20, 2013
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All aboard!Jan 20, 2013
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The model even has little human figures.Jan 20, 2013
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Since the Yamato was built in secrecy, there are very few clear photos of the ship.Jan 20, 2013
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On her way to Okinawa, the Yamato was spotted by US submarines and aircraft and sunk by American carrier-based bombers and torpedo bombers on April 7, 1945.Jan 20, 2013
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The Yamato's final mission was suicidal. It was ordered to go to Okinawa in April 1945 and beach herself offshore so it wouldn't sink. While beached, it would fire its guns at the enemy on Okinawa.Jan 20, 2013
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"Yamato" is another name for Japan, and so it is a very revered and prestigious name for any ship. Many movies, anime, etc., have been based on Battleship Yamato which retains a strong cultural influence in Japan.Jan 20, 2013
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Battleship Yamato was commissioned a week after the Pearl Harbor attack in Dec. 1941. It was Japan's most powerful battleship and now legendary. It turned out to be great waste since the big guns were hardly used and it was sunk 4 years later. Jan 20, 2013
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Battleship Yamato has an Imperial chrysanthemum crest on the bow. This was one of the things which helped to identify the wreck on the sea bottom.Jan 20, 2013
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The scale model of the battleship is 26.3 meters long. It has been reconstructed as accurately as possible based on photographs and exploration of the wreck.Jan 20, 2013
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Yamato Museum's main attraction is this large scale model of Battleship Yamato. You can walk around it. This area of the museum is called Yamato Hiroba.Jan 20, 2013
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Outside the museum, a battleship gun and anchor are displayed.Jan 20, 2013
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The Yamato Museum is open 9 am to 6 pm (enter by 5:30 pm). Admission is 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for high schoolers, and 200 yen for kids. Battleship Yamato was built in Kure.Jan 20, 2013
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Yamato Museum's official name is Kure Maritime Museum. Although the 1/10 scale model of Battleship Yamato is the main attraction, it also has other exhibits explaining Kure's maritime history.Jan 20, 2013
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Welcome to Kure.Jan 20, 2013
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Entering Kure Port terminal.Jan 20, 2013
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Kure Port dock.Jan 20, 2013
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Back of the Yamato Museum facing Kure Port. Jan 20, 2013
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We could also see the submarine museum at the JMSDF Kure Museum adjacent to the Yamato Museum.Jan 20, 2013
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Kure is a major shipbuilding town.Jan 20, 2013
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From the boat, we could see the dock where the Battleship Yamato was built in Kure, Hiroshima. "Kure" is pronounced "Kuray" not like the word "cure."Jan 20, 2013
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Kure Port in Hiroshima Prefecture. We arrived from Etajima island across the Seto Inland Sea. Kure is also a short train ride from Hiroshima Station.Jan 20, 2013
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