The historic battleship Mikasa is the only remaining pre-dreadnought in the world and was a symbol of Japanese naval power. This venerable ship was Admiral Togo Heihachiro’s flagship during the Russo-Japanese War and at the center of the most decisive battle in naval victory, Tsushima. Which, Japan surged to the top to take hold of the dominance of Northeast Asia.
Mikasa was constructed at Barrow-in-Furness in England by Vickers. She was completed in 1902 after being laid down in 1899, making her the newest British-built battleship in existence. Her armament was characteristic of British battleship designs of the period, featuring two twin twelve-inch gun turrets and batteries of six-inch and smaller guns amidships. After the Russo-Japanese War, Mikasa’s original twelve-inch and six-inch guns were 40-caliber, later being upgraded to 45-caliber weapons of increased power.
This was decommissioned in 1922, and its hull was kept as the museum ship after being concreted through its whole length. By 1945, she had been reduced to a fixed memorial boat, effectively no longer having any military value. Upon the total demilitarization of Japan, Mikasa had her armament removed and rigging to a great extent, superintendence of her structures neglected for years. Restoration work started in the mid-1950s, and she was re-opened as a museum ship in 1961.
At Yokosuka, Japan, in Mikasa Memorial Park, the Mikasa is now at rest—a true monument to naval history. The 400 feet long and 76 feet in beam ship sits near the statue of Admiral Togo, often called “the Nelson of the East.” Visitors are free to wander on the ship’s upper deck, on which four three-inch guns let their screws be raised, elevating the barrels. In the turrets are twin 40-caliber twelve-inch gun mountings in their bow and stern, while the main turret, weighing in at 50 tons, operates under hydraulic pressure.
Once on board, the museum provides a great view into the lifestyle of a Japanese sailor in the early 1900s. Exhibits include an original rudder wheel, a ship’s bell, and historical photos by Capt. Shigetake Seki. Other exhibits present naval uniforms, medals, and a model of the USS Constitution—the oldest ship still on active duty in the U.S. Navy.
The first main deck boasts interactive features, among them a virtual reality simulator, allowing one to feel the action and drama of the Battle of Tsushima Strait. A video game portrays the steering of the ship, as well as the ability to fire the ship’s guns, reenacting the action of the battle. On the bridge, itself, viewers can see actual events provided in Tokyo Bay and even have a view that includes Sarushima, which is commonly referred to as Monkey Island.
The Mikasa represents a poignant monument of Japan’s history in the sea and how it became a powerful maritime force. A visit to this evocative historic battleship by a naval history aficionado is an opportunity to relive an important chapter in sea warfare.