The history of Misawa began in 1881 as a branch village of the Village of Momoishi. In 1889, it officially became the Village of Misawa. The livelihood of the local people was centered on farming and fishing. Misawa was renowned nationwide for “Kizakino Pasture,” which produced quality horses. Modern agriculture was brought to Japan in 1872 by Yasuto Hirosawa of Misawa’s Tonami Clan. His farm was the source of Western style stock breeding and farming for the rest of Japan.
Misawa gained fame in 1930s as the ideal take-off site for the world’s first nonstop trans-Pacific flight. Aviators from all over the world visited Misawa to achieve the first successful flight. After three attempts ended in failure, Clyde Pangborn (of Washington State) and Hugh Herndon (of New York), made history by taking off from Misawa aboard a single-engine Bellanca monoplane named “Miss Veedol” in October of 1931, and landing about 41 hours later in Wenatchee, Washington, successfully crossing the Pacific Ocean nonstop. Misawa and Wenatchee celebrated this feat 50 years later, and became sister cities in 1981. At the 70th anniversary of the historic flight, the sister city relationship expanded to include East Wenatchee, where the Miss Veedol actually landed. Since then, the three cities have built one of the most active sister city relationships in Japan, having engaged in various exchange activities. Delegations from the Wenatchee Valley visit Misawa every autumn, and Misawa sends delegations to the Wenatchee Valley every spring.
After the successful Miss Veedol flight, Misawa became known as a suitable airstrip area, and in 1939, the former Japanese Navy constructed a Naval Air Base nearby. After WWII concluded in 1945, the base was turned over to U.S. Forces, who have been stationed here ever since. Japanese nationals flocked to Misawa for the opportunity of obtaining work on and around the base, and the population rapidly increased. The village was elevated to Misawa Town 1948, and finally became Misawa City in 1958.
Today, Misawa is known as a “sky city,” with one of Japan’s largest airport facilities. There is an international atmosphere in the city, promoted by the friendly spirit of its residents. The good relationship has been long maintained between the citizens and the base community.
