Sasebo

Lore & Background

Sasebo is a core city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, and is the second-largest city in the prefecture after the capital, Nagasaki. Its appearance is defined by a landscape of many hills, though these are not as steep as those in Nagasaki City. The mountains extend close to the central downtown area, which discourages the use of bicycles. The city’s range extends across the northwestern part of Kyushu, from the base of the Kitamatsuura Peninsula to its central and southern parts. It lies about 50 kilometers north-northwest of Nagasaki City, with its west, southwest, and southern sides facing the sea. To the east, it borders Saga Prefecture, and the city’s territory includes the island of Ukujima at the northern end of the Goto Islands. The habitat is characterized by a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and cool winters, experiencing a rainy season from early June to mid-July and light snowfall with some freezing in winter. Parts of the city fall within the Saikai National Park. A defining characteristic is its deep, protected harbor, which led Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō to select the site for a major Imperial Japanese Navy base in 1886. This naval district became a key port for operations in the First Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War, and later hosted U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo after World War II. The city’s economy remains dominated by shipbuilding and heavy industries, centered on the adjacent shipyard of Sasebo Heavy Industries.

Reader's Guide

Sasebo’s significance is rooted in its selection by Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō as the site for a major Imperial Japanese Navy base, chosen for its protected deep-water harbor, proximity to China and Korea, and nearby coal fields. The Sasebo Naval District, established in 1886, became a key port for operations in the First Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War, and remained a major naval base through World War II. The navy also constructed the Sasebo Naval Arsenal, including large shipyards and repair facilities. After the war, the United States Navy took over part of the base, forming U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo, with portions shared by the Japan Self-Defense Forces, including the JMSDF and the JGSDF’s Western Army Infantry Regiment. This military presence continues to shape the city. Economically, shipbuilding and heavy industries dominate, with Sasebo Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. operating adjacent to the base. The Port of Sasebo supports an active fishing fleet and oyster and pearl farms on the Kujū-ku Islands, while the Mikawachi district maintains a 400-year-old pottery industry. The city’s geography includes many hills, limiting bicycle use, and parts lie within Saikai National Park. Sasebo was one of 17 original targets for the atomic bomb and suffered severe bombing on June 29, 1945, destroying 48% of the city. It was raised directly to city status in 1902 and became a core city in 2016.

Did You Know?

• Sasebo was one of the original 17 targets considered by the United States for the atomic bomb.
• The city has a sister-city relationship with Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States.