Comments on: Relics of WW2- the Negishi Grandstand replaced by Yokosuka Navy Base

By: Linduh

Linduh — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 13:16:50 +0000

Wow. It’s sad just how much the Grandstand has changed. It looks smaller than what I recall as a child, when I lived on Area 2 & Negishi (1978-84). The roof for the bleachers was still standing then, which made it much more impressionable. I remember having to go inside the building with my mom and sister, before we moved back to the States. I don’t remember what we where there for, but I recall the dark hallways that led away from the room we were in, the old peeling paint, and that old building smell.
My parents used to tell us, if we ever got into trouble with the law, we’d get locked up in the Grandstand jail. Supposedly the MP jail was located in the Stands. Based on a post here, I guess it did exist!
I never did find any caves to explore. However, I did often wander about with my dog, right along the thick bamboo edge of Negishi’s cliff’s 4 ft fencing. I often wondered why there was a locked gate, with a sign stating ‘emergency use only’, and about 5 or 6 concrete steps leading down the steep edge. At the time, the cliff was still natural. Today, from recent Google Map photos I have seen, it appears to have been repaired/stabilized with huge square concrete slabs. I believe this was completed, due to a landslide. What is down right creepy, is that the location which the cliff had collapsed was where I had OFTEN rested on flattened cardboard boxes in the tall bamboo. It was a place to get away and watch the clouds take shape. Just me and my dog, Tippy.
Thanks for sharing the photos. I’m glad you and your friend were able to get a glance of the interior. May the Grandstand keep … standing for more years to come.

By: Humpphrey Nixon

Humpphrey Nixon — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:43:51 +0000

The US Army took over the grandstand after WWII and installed a VHF Radio Relay terminal run by the Signal Corps with the customary Japanese technicians augmenting the GI staff (or maybe the other way around). It was on the top floor and a heavy duty AC generator was in the basement. The generator was a must so the terminal didn’t go off the air when the Japanese power dropped below 80 volts as the Yokohama population turned on their lights after dusk. I was assigned there from 1950 to 1953. The golf course was in full operation; I played my first and last game there. The ground floor was a motor pool. Every morning the trucks would be cranked up and the terminal would go off the air because of the static from the truck motors. Same game when the trucks came home in the afternoon.

By: MJG

MJG — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:53:24 +0000

Here's an image of the racecourse in September 1945- sent me by G. Mailander. He says- "Picture taken by an old veteran of the 1st Cavalry Division when elements were camped out on the grounds. Was stationed in Yokosuka in 1963-1966. There was a golf course in the center of the track area as I recall."

By: Mike Kennedy

Mike Kennedy — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 04:51:47 +0000

I was the class of 1973 and worked at the Navy Exchange Gas station for a year and a half before I left Japan for California. There use to be a hobby shop at the grand stand facility and I painted my 1969 Ford Fairlane GT A. I use to also eat at the snack bar at the golf course. They called it the (18th hole)!

Great times!

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 10 May 2011 00:47:58 +0000

I live in Negishi and have wanted to take tours of the Grandstand for a while now, but unfortunately they’ve stopped doing tours. I might have to do some urban exploring if I ever want to see it first hand! j/k. The pictures are awesome. I love seeing the Grandstand on my way to and from work.

On a clear day you can see Mt. Fuji. The view of Yokohama is breathtaking as well!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 04:25:15 +0000

I took many art classes in the Grandstand. Spent a lot of time exploring it after it closed down. Someone asked earlier about the golf course. The golf course is no longer and a park is in its place. Part of it, past the little fire station, is an equestrian museum.

By: Zauberpilze züchten

Zauberpilze züchten — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:03:45 +0000

Great photos!!! I really love these lost places that look like the workers will come back to work in some minutes.

By: Hugh Hendry

Hugh Hendry — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 20:52:32 +0000

Wow great site and what a trip down memory lane. I lived in negishi from 86 to 90. Moved back to Japan in 94 and have been here for the most part since. I now live in Yokosuka. We used to party as teenagers in the part that was behind the building that is cuurently standing. It was really easy access as we climbed through some windows that led into a parking garage area. We would walk up untill we found the door and then go into the second level which I guess was an old club. We found what we believed to be an old bank vault as it had a huge safe that we would all party in at night.
We would even walk over to the old bowling alley that still had balls and pins and bowl a few games for free. That is if you could actually get the ball to go where you wanted since the lanes by this time were in bad shape. They even had the remains of some pinball machines. One sounded as though it still had money in it. Of course it could have just been the guts rattling around. I think you would have enjoyed exploring that section because we sure did.
There is alos an old old japanese style japanese house in the middle of the base. Few people even know it’s there but as kids we explored everywhere. Had some junk in it but my memory has faded now.

By: Merlyn Lubin

Merlyn Lubin — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 23:46:20 +0000

Superb post to have read on my break!

By: Asa Kim

Asa Kim — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:05:26 +0000

HOW FUNNY.

I’m the new Yokohama Detachment Negishi OIC. I just took over. Been researching a little about the Grandstands right outside my office b/c Yokohama City agreed to open it up for a personal tour to our office sometime in November.

Now I’m watching it on the web (done illegally of course). But I have to say, those are some great pictures…