Mutsu Memorial Museum
Mutsu Memorial Museum: the Mutsu Memorial Museum, in Ihota, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is dedicated to the the Japanese battleship Mutsu, which sank near here in 1943.
- Battleship Mutsu History
- Mutsu Memorial Museum Exhibits
- Mutsu Specifications (1943)
- Museum Access
- Mutsu Park
Mutsu Memorial Museum, Yamaguchi Prefecture 陸奥記念館
Jake Davies
The Mutsu Memorial Museum at Ihota on Suo-Oshima Island in Yamaguchi
Interior of the Mutsu Memorial Museum
The Mutsu Memorial Museum, in Ihota, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is dedicated to the Japanese battleship Mutsu, which sank near here in 1943.
This small museum displays items from, and parts of the ship salvaged from the sea bottom, as well as documenting the ship's history as well as her crew.
Some of the items salvaged from the battleship Mutsu after 30 years at the bottom of the sea
Scale model of the dreadnought battleship Mutsu
History of the Mutsu
Launched in 1920, the Mutsu, named after the former province in Tohoku, was one of two Nagato Class dreadnought battleships of the Imperial Japanese navy.
Extensively modernized and upgraded during the 1930's, she saw service during the Pacific War, in fact her sister ship the Nagato was the flagship of Admiral Yamamoto during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Though she played a support role in the Battle of Midway and Guadalcanal, the Mutsu only ever fired 4 shots in combat.
In 1943 her primary role was in training, and while in the Inland Sea just five kilometers from the museum, the Mutsu exploded and sank with the loss of over 1,100 lives.
At first it was believed a US submarine had sank her, but no evidence was found, rather the conclusion, however unpalatable, was that the explosion was caused by a disgruntled Japanese seaman.
The whole affair was hushed up and the survivors separated in an attempt to avoid a loss of morale. Following the war an attempt was made to salvage the ship but the depth of 42 meters was too great, however during the 1970's further operations brought up much of the wreck.
One of the propellers and a gun salvaged from the wreck of the battleship Mutsu
A Shin Meiwa PS-1 seaplane on display at Mutsu Park
Mutsu Memorial Museum Exhibits
Materials from the wreck are displayed around the country including the infamous Yasukuni Shrine Museum (Yushukan), the Battleship Yamato Museum in Kure, and the Naval Academy on Etajima. The greatest collection, however, is here at the Mutsu Memorial Museum.
There are lots of documentary photos of the great ship, and a scale model. An example of a crew berth has been recreated, and there are lots of items salvaged from the wreck itself, much obviously quite corroded.
As with most Japanese war museums there is a great focus on those who died and a lot of materials have been contributed by families of the deceased.
There is no English language signage, but most exhibits are pretty obvious. The museum is never crowded so the staff can answer questions. On a rise outside the museum building are several pieces of the wreck itself including a gun and one of the propellers. The museum is likely to be of interest to anyone interested in World War II history and or battleships.
Mutsu Specifications (1943)
Displacement, 39,070 tonnes. Length, 738 feet. Beam, 113 feet. Draft, 31 feet. Top speed, 25 knots. Crew, 1,475. Power: 10 boilers driving 4 shafts. Armaments: 4 twin 41cm guns, 18 single 14cm guns, 4 twin 12.7 cm DP guns, 10 twin 25mm AA guns. 3 floatplanes.
Small pool where kids can touch and pick up starfishes etc at Nagisa Aquarium
View of the Inland Sea from the campground at Mutsu Park on Suo-Oshima Island
Access
2111 Ihota, Suo-Oshima-cho, Yamaguchi 742-2601
Tel: 0820 75 0042
Hours: Open from 9 am to 4.30 pm every day of the year.
Admission: Entry is 480 yen for adults, 210 yen for kids, or 580 yen and 260 yen including the neighboring Nagisa Aquarium.
By bus bound for Ihota from Obatake Station on the Sanyo Line, or by ferry from either Matsuyama in Ehime on Shikoku or Yanaiminato in Yamaguchi.
Mutsu Park
The museum is located within Mutsu Park with great sea views across the Inland Sea to Shikoku and Honshu. As well as the museum there is a small aquarium, Nagisa Aquarium.
While not large it has a "petting pool" where kids can get in the water and touch starfish and other creatures. A large seaplane, an ex-JMSDF PS-1, built in 1969 and used for sea rescue and anti submarine warfare, is located in the park which also has a campground.
