Truths and untruths, or urban legends, have been talked about the Yosami Radio Transmitting Station for some years. Here are some answers in summary to the questions based on "Fifty Mysteries on the Yosami Radio Transmitting Station" (in Japanese) by Tetsu Suzuki, Kariya, Japan, published in the annual study journal "Kariya Vol. 24, March 2003, by the Kariya Local Culture Study Association. The other stories have been taken into various chapters of this Website.
Truths of the Yosami Radio Transmitting Station Q1.
Was the war attack message code of "Climb Mount Niitake 1208" transmitted by Yosami?
Three radio transmitting stations in Japan have been claimed to have transmitted the war attack message code of "Climb Mount Niitake 1208" on December 2, 1941 to open the Pacific War on December 8. They are Funabashi Radio Transmitting Station, in Chiba Prefecture, Hario Radio Transmitting Station, in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, and Yosami. Hario has been almost denied for lack of proof, and it is understood that Funabashi transmitted by short and medium waves, and Yosami VLF.
An Imperial Japanese Navy submarine daily journal records "received the VLF message of 17.44kC of the Tokyo Transmitting Station at 17 meter deep." By that account, the war attack message code of "Climb Mount Niitake 1208" was originated from the Flag ship Nagato, stationed off the Hashira-jima Island of Iwakuni City, and sent to the Tokyo Transmitting Station by land line in Kasumigaseki, Tokyo, and then relayed by Funabashi and Yosami respectedly
Truths of the Yosami Radio Transmitting Station Q2.
Were the Yosami Steel Towers removed from Tsingtao, China?
Though it has been rumored for some years that the eight 250-m high Yosami Steel Towers were removed from Tsingtao, China, the Towers were designed by Engineer Sen-no-suke Kusunoki of Japan Wireless Telegraph Company, and the towers were made by Ishikawajima Shipbuilding Company, current IHI. It might be attributed to the fact Japan occupied Tsingtao, leased territory of Germany, by a victory of World War I.
Truths of the Yosami Radio Transmitting Station Q3.
Was the Yosami Radio Transmitting Station built by the German compensation?
Out of a total of 5.5 million Japanese yen then, the German compensation of World War I accounts 235 thousand Japanese yen or according to another document 700 thousand Japanese yen, making 4% or 13% of the total cost.
Truths of the Yosami Radio Transmitting Station Q4.
Was the Yosami Radio Transmitting Station the World One or the East One?
The capacity of transmitting stations is measured in meter-ampere. The effective antenna height of 200 meters by 250-meter eight steel towers, multiplied by maximum amperes of 750 yields 120,000 meter-amperes, surpassing the 80,000 meter-amperes of Nauen Transmitting Station, Germany, making Yosami the world number one.
Though the height of the 250-m high Yosami Steel Towers were not high enough to the 312-m high Eiffel Tower built in 1889, thy surpassed the 200-m high towers of Hara-no-machi Transmitting Station, northern Japan then called "tallest in the East." Yosami had been tallest in the East until it was yielded to Tokyo Tower built in 1958.
Truths of the Yosami Radio Transmitting Station Q5.
Is there a Yosami Radio Transmitting Station Time Capsule?
In April 1989, the 60th anniversary of the Yosami Radio Transmitting Station is held, and Memorial monument of the Birthplace of Wireless Telecommunication to Europe is erected by the Tokai Chapter of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers. In July the same year, the time capsule containing records of Yosami Radio Transmitting Station was buried next to the Memorial monument. The Yosami Transmitting Station Time Capsule is to be opened in April 2039, in the 100th anniversary of the institute.
