Miyako Jima today

Konnichiwa
	Kyoko's words are in blue and Frank's are in black. The Bridge between Miyako and Ikema. When I was on the island, in the 1950s, there were no bridges to the other islands. I am sure the building of bridges has greatly altered the life style of most of the islands people.

	You have a nice beach for surfing. Our beaches on Miyako are not good for surfing since the water is still. We have many tourists from main land of Japan now. They enjoy diving and snorkel. The island in the distance is Ogami jima. There is a bridge which connects Miyako and Kurima jima. This bridge was completed in 1995.
	Hirara skyline. For those of us who have not returned to Miyako for many years it is a bit of a shock to see Hirara as it is today. As Kyoko points out, after a major Typhoon devastated all buildings on the island several years ago, it was decided to rebuild using cement techniques.
	The Miyako Airport. Gone is the small grass runway cut out of the sugarcane fields. The grass field did not have a control tower. The only air traffic control was the GCI operators on the radar base. When there are only one or two flights a week, and many weeks none, air traffic control is not a big deal.
	It takes 45 minutes by airplane from Miyako to Naha. There is sea transportation but most people use airplane. The airfare is not cheap, but people prefer to use the airplane.
	2008 The Radar base as it is today. Construction can be seen in the background. The JSDF are obviously going to continue operating the base. After remaining the same for all those years while the USAF operated the base it can be seen that the Japanese are up-dating the base.
	1977 The base as it was in 1977. The base was a Japanese Self Defense Force base at this time. It is clear that the Japanese Self Defense Force have installed additional antenna and antenna towers.
	1974 The base as it was in 1974. The base was still a United States Air Force Station at this time. It was still the base we remember from the 50s.' This picture was taken from Kyoko's back yard.
	The Radar base as it is today. It is clear that the basic configuration of the base has remained the same, but there are some additional buildings on the base. The road-ways are the same with some additional roads having been added. Many of the roads are paved now. Even in the farm areas. It is not the island I remember. --Frank--
The Base And Transportation (Notes From Kyoko Takaesu) Okinawa and Miyako were returned to Japan in 1972. In 1973 the USAF base in Miyako was switched to Japanese Self-Defense Forces. Until 1975, the road from base to Hirara was paved, but no others were paved. The base was located at the end of the road. The boundary line of the base was only a wire rope which we could easily jump over. When we were small, we often jumped over it and played on base. A guard would come and say, "Go home." It was fun. The base was unaltered until 1975. I left Miyako in 1975. The big change of Miyako Jima was afterwards. Fences were set up around the base, and big new road was made. It is shortcut to Hirara. You don't need to go through Nobaru village anymore. Main transportation on Island is cars, each house owns at least one car. My family has two cars.
Habu (Notes From Kyoko Takaesu) Questions about Habu and other dangerous animals. We don't have any dangerous animals or Habu in the fields. There are snakes which have no poison. I have snake phobia. Even though it is a picture, I can't stand it. It appears often in our yard or road. I don't know why I'm scared at snakes. Miyako Jima product (Notes From Kyoko Takaesu) Main product on Island is sugar cane. The cane crop does not make enough money. We are trying to raise new kinds of crops in Miyako. The Mango of Miyako Jima is becoming famous in Japan, and perhaps it will become a good cash crop.

Before you begin watching the clip below, you should use this control to stop the background music. Hirara, Miyako Jima 0:55 Communications Panel
......Go to page 1. Mostly pictures taken by Airman Odell while stationed on the island. All 1958 period. (Passed link test 11/01/08)	......Go to page 2. Mostly pictures taken by Airman Clark Nelson while stationed on the island. All 1957/58 period. (Passed link test 11/01/08)
......Go to page 3. Mostly pictures taken by Kyoko Takaesu of Miyako island group. All current pictures. (Passed link test 11/01/08)	......A good quick description of the Miyako Islands. (Passed link test 01/13/07)
......Ed Johnson has a web site about Miyako and it contains many very good photographs of the island as it was. (Passed link test 01/13/07)	......Satellite image and maps of Miyako. (Passed link test 01/13/07)
......623 & 624 Okinawa and Erabu Shima. Some pictures of typical installations. (Passed link test 01/18/07)	......Some photographs of the base and the island. (Passed link test 01/19/07)
......Miyako Blogger's page. Page has real time video and blogger stuff. Most written words are in Japanese.	Spare
......USNS T-LSM-335 was the supply ship to Miyako. I made one trip on her from Naha Army Port to the Hirara dock. (Passed link test 11/01/08)	......Site map. This is the best way to navigate this site. (76) (Passed link test 01/13/07)
.....The Home Page and the Odell Home on Merritt Island, Florida, USA. (41) (Passed link test 01/13/07)	......Page 2 of the Odell Home Page section. Space launch schedule from CCAS and NASA. And some other stuff. (41) (Passed link test 01/13/07)
......AVG 40 minute movie. Long load time. (Passed link test 0x/13/07)	......To contact Frank Odell. Send comments, pictures or more thoughts. I will include them on this page.