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Tanashi Elementary School
The school in 2015
Tanashi Elementary School in 2015
Location
4-5-21 Tanashicho, Nishitōkyō, Tokyo

Japan
Information
Type Elementary school
Established25 August 1873 (1873-08-25)
Website www.nishitokyo.ed.jp/e-tanashi

Nishitokyo Municipal Tanashi Elementary School (西東京市立田無小学校, Nishitōkyō Shiritsu Tanashi Shōgakkō) is an elementary school located in Nishitōkyō in Tokyo, Japan. It was founded in 1873. [1]

History

The school moved to its current location in 1925. During World War II there were a number of military factories located nearby, including one operated by Nakajima Aircraft Company. [2]

In July 2018 during construction of a building a large number of World War II-era weapons were located buried at the school around 1-2 meters underground. Around 1,400 firearms (rifles and machine guns) and 1,200 swords were located. [3] Grenades, bullets and cannon shells were also discovered. It is thought that the weapons and ammunition were discarded at the end of the war by the Imperial Japanese Army. [4] [5] The recovery work continued until August 3. Nishitōkyō city disposed of the swords and guns and personal of the Japan Self-Defense Forces disposed of the ammunition and explosives. [6] A total of around 300 bullets, shells and grenades were found. [7] [8] While many articles described the edged weapons as "swords", they appeared to be Type 30 bayonets in published images. [9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "西東京市立田無小学校". nishitokyo.ed.jp. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  2. ^ Hiraoka, Taeko (August 6, 2018). "校庭から銃や刀が大量出土、旧日本軍のものか 西東京市". Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved August 8, 2018. (in Japanese)
  3. ^ "1,400 guns, 1,200 swords found buried at Tokyo elementary school". Mainichi Shimbun. August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  4. ^ "1,400 guns and 1,200 swords from World War II found buried at Tokyo elementary school". Japan Times. August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  5. ^ "1,400 guns, 1,200 swords from WWII era found buried at Tokyo elementary school". Japan Today. August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  6. ^ Sekine, Kazuhiro (August 6, 2018). "田無小学校の地中から大量の武器 銃砲1400点、刀剣1200点(東京)". HuffPost. Retrieved August 8, 2018. (in Japanese)
  7. ^ "戦時中の刀や小銃か、小学校敷地から大量に見つかる". Tokyo Broadcasting System Television. August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2018. (in Japanese)
  8. ^ "小学校敷地に銃1400丁 戦時中に使用か、刀剣も". Sankei Shimbun. August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2018. (in Japanese)
  9. ^ "In Photos: Firearms, swords found buried at Tokyo school". Mainichi Shimbun. August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2018.