In July of 2019, I had the pleasure of visiting Mikasa. The weather was wet with winds sweeping in from Tokyo bay. I stood on her flying bridge approximately where Togo stood. I had my moment. The ship herself was filled and surrounded by concrete as per the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. Following WW II she was stripped of her turrets and weapons (possibly due to the insistence of the USSR - still butt-hurt over the Battle of Tsushima) and turned into a dance hall of all things. Retired Admiral Nimitz and a British-American John Barrow raised awareness of Mikasa's increasingly poor condition. Money was raised and replacement parts were cannibalized from retired South American warships. Replica turrets and smaller guns were fabricated. Sailors from USS Nimitz (2009) repainted her. Needless to say, visiting the old girl was a real treat. Is she 100% real? Nope. Do I care? Nope. I had a conversation with a guy who laughed it off saying that Mikasa has as much to do with IJN Mikasa as Cinderella's castle is to a real castle. I beg to differ. The hull and many of her fittings are real, sailed around the world, fought the Russians, sank, and was raised. Many of her other fittings are authentic to British-built battleships. Either way, what there is of her sits proudly as the main attraction of Mikasa Park - her bow always pointing towards the Imperial Palace. I want to go back.
Interesting Fact: At Vickerstown in Barrow-in-Furness, there is a street named after the battleship Mikasa where she was built. During WW2, the government ordered the name of the street to be changed for a more patriotic British name but the residents refused to change the name since the workers who built Mikasa had pride in the name. So the street called Mikasa Street remains.
It’s worth a visit if you’re in Japan. It’s about an hour train ride south of Tokyo, and the station is about a 10 minute easy walk to the IJN Mikasa. Or what’s left of her.
Развлечения
In July of 2019, I had the pleasure of visiting Mikasa. The weather was wet with winds sweeping in from Tokyo bay. I stood on her flying bridge approximately where Togo stood. I had my moment. The ship herself was filled and surrounded by concrete as per the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. Following WW II she was stripped of her turrets and weapons (possibly due to the insistence of the USSR - still butt-hurt over the Battle of Tsushima) and turned into a dance hall of all things. Retired Admiral Nimitz and a British-American John Barrow raised awareness of Mikasa's increasingly poor condition. Money was raised and replacement parts were cannibalized from retired South American warships. Replica turrets and smaller guns were fabricated. Sailors from USS Nimitz (2009) repainted her. Needless to say, visiting the old girl was a real treat. Is she 100% real? Nope. Do I care? Nope. I had a conversation with a guy who laughed it off saying that Mikasa has as much to do with IJN Mikasa as Cinderella's castle is to a real castle. I beg to differ. The hull and many of her fittings are real, sailed around the world, fought the Russians, sank, and was raised. Many of her other fittings are authentic to British-built battleships. Either way, what there is of her sits proudly as the main attraction of Mikasa Park - her bow always pointing towards the Imperial Palace.
I want to go back.
I toured Mikasa in 1986 while deployed on USS Cape Cod AD 43. Spent 4 months in Yokosuka. Still have the brochure
Interesting Fact:
At Vickerstown in Barrow-in-Furness, there is a street named after the battleship Mikasa where she was built. During WW2, the government ordered the name of the street to be changed for a more patriotic British name but the residents refused to change the name since the workers who built Mikasa had pride in the name. So the street called Mikasa Street remains.
IIRC, also in Vickerstown is a street named after the Japanese battlecruiser-turned-fast battleship Kongo.
they have a room on the ship showing pictures of barrow. i met one of the ships staff they had a visit to barrow
also the ship is worth a visit if you go to tokyo
It’s worth a visit if you’re in Japan. It’s about an hour train ride south of Tokyo, and the station is about a 10 minute easy walk to the IJN Mikasa. Or what’s left of her.
It is great that she was preserved, and I believe she was used in a few features, great video.
Take care, and all the best.
You really deserve more viewers man
State of the Art at the time...encompassing the weaknesses of the time, as well.
Once again, a fascinating topic and Sterling Production! You're the Bomb.
Love,
David
I have a model of the IGN Mikasa
Should be IJN Mikasa.
I-mperial
J-apanese
N-avy