Oguri Kozukenosuke and the Yokosuka Ironworks — Tracing the Origins of Modern Japan

A special photo tour will be held in Yokosuka, themed around Oguri Kozukenosuke, a key historical figure who will be featured in the 2027 NHK Taiga drama. This one-day program invites you to explore Yokosuka, known as one of the “birthplaces of modern Japan,” through both history and photography.

Participants will visit sites such as Sarushima Island, the Thibaudier Residence, the YOKOSUKA Naval Port Cruise, and Verny Park. Along the way, you will learn from a local historian and receive hands-on photography guidance from a professional photographer, capturing Yokosuka’s stories through your own lens.

Walk through the origins of modern Japan

From the late Edo period into the Meiji era, Japan began its transformation into a modern nation-state. One of the symbolic starting points of this process was the Yokosuka Ironworks, built under Oguri Kozukenosuke in close collaboration with the French engineer Verny.

On this tour, you will spend a full day visiting locations that embody the footsteps of modernization: the uninhabited island of Sarushima, the historic Thibaudier Residence connected to the ironworks project, the lively Dobuita Street area, the YOKOSUKA Naval Port Cruise, and the rose-lined Verny Park. As you move from site to site, you will see how the landscapes of Yokosuka are deeply intertwined with Japan’s modern history.

A full day where history and photography come together

The distinctive feature of this tour is that you can enjoy both history and photography in depth through a well-structured program. On Sarushima Island, you will capture the unique atmosphere where lush nature and historic military remains coexist in the middle of Tokyo Bay. At the Thibaudier Residence, local historian Shoichi Yamamoto will give a lecture on Oguri Kozukenosuke and the Yokosuka Ironworks, sharing the background and intentions behind the construction of the ironworks and the state of Yokosuka at the time.

The photography instructor for this tour is Ken Narahashi, a photographer from Yokosuka who was selected for the “Tokyo Camera Club 10 Selections 2022.” Drawing on his wide-ranging experience in portraits, landscapes, commercial work, and art projects, he will provide practical advice on composition, light, and visual storytelling on location.

In the latter half of the day, you will board the YOKOSUKA Naval Port Cruise to view impressive vessels up close, then move on to Verny Park, known for its French-style garden design and scenic waterfront views, which provide ideal settings for late-afternoon photography. By learning the historical context behind each site, the scenery you photograph gains deeper meaning. This tour offers a rich “history × photography” experience where learning and creativity merge.

Tour Details

Date & Time

Friday, December 19, 2025
Around 10:00 – around 17:30

Meeting & Dismissal

Meeting point
Mikasa Terminal / Sarushima Visitor Center
27-16 Ogawachō, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa 238-0004
Please come directly to the meeting point on your own.

Dismissal
Shioiri Station (Keikyu Line)

Capacity

Approx. 15–20 participants

If the number of applications exceeds the capacity, participants will be selected by lottery.

Only successful applicants will be notified on or after Thursday, December 4, 2025. Please note that no notification will be sent to unsuccessful applicants.

Applications must be made by the participant themselves. Companions and joint applications are not accepted.

Itinerary (tentative)

Around 10:00: meet at Mikasa Terminal.
Morning: Sarushima Island.
Midday: Dobuita Street area and free time for lunch.
Afternoon: Thibaudier Residence and a lecture by Shoichi Yamamoto, followed by the YOKOSUKA Naval Port Cruise and a photography session in Verny Park.
Around 17:00: dismissal at Shioiri Station.

The schedule is subject to change depending on conditions on the day.

Related websites (Japanese):

Sarushima official website:
https://sarushima.jp/information/

YOKOSUKA Naval Port Cruise official website:
https://yokosuka-gunko.jp/information/

Participation Fee

Free of charge

・Transportation to and from the meeting/dismissal points and all food and drinks are at your own expense.

・The YOKOSUKA Naval Port Cruise fee (1,800 yen, weekday group rate) will be paid individually by each participant.

・Personal accident insurance will be arranged by the organizers.

Application Period

From Friday, November 7, 2025 to Monday, December 1, 2025, 17:00

Successful applicants will be informed of the detailed schedule and meeting instructions on or after Thursday, December 4, 2025.

If applications exceed capacity, participants will be chosen by lottery. No notification will be sent to unsuccessful applicants.

How to apply

Please apply via the official online application form at the following URL:
https://fb.minpos.com/campaign/entry/top.php?code=yokosukacity_2025form

Eligibility & Participation Conditions

Participants must meet all of the following conditions:

Be 18 years of age or older.

Have an Instagram account and follow “yokosuka.travel” (the official tourism account of Yokosuka City).

Be able to post photos taken during the tour on Instagram with all of the following hashtags (in Japanese)

#ここはヨコスカ – literally “This is Yokosuka”, the official tourism campaign hashtag.
#撮影したロケーション – “Location of the shot” (please use this hashtag as written).
#小栗上野介と横須賀製鉄所 – “Oguri Kozukenosuke and the Yokosuka Ironworks”.
#日本近代化の原点をめぐるスタンプラリー – “Stamp rally tracing the origins of Japan’s modernization”.Please do not translate the hashtags themselves. Use the Japanese tags exactly as shown above.

In principle, keep your Instagram account public (not private) so that posts from the tour can be viewed and shared.

Use of Photographs

Photographs taken during this event may be used, free of charge and without time limit, by Yokosuka City and Tokyo Camera Club (and third parties authorized by them) for PR and promotional purposes. Possible uses include but are not limited to:

・Official websites and web articles
・Printed materials such as brochures and posters
・Event announcements, advertisements, and other promotional media

Where possible, the photographer’s Instagram username (or other author information) will be credited. However, please understand that in some cases, due to space and design constraints, a credit may not be included.

Photos may also be edited, including trimming, adding text, or other design adjustments.

During the event, please follow the instructions of the organizers and staff to ensure everyone’s safety.

Instructors

Photography Instructor: Ken Narahashi

A photographer from Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Drawing on experience in music and design, he works across a wide range of fields, from corporate and government commissions to artistic projects. He received the Grand Prize (World No.1) in the annual awards of the U.S. portrait magazine LYBELL MAGAZINE, becoming the first Asian artist to do so, and was selected for the Tokyo Camera Club 10 Selections 2022.

【Official site】https://ken-narahashi.com
【Instagram】https://www.instagram.com/suara_alam/

History Lecturer: Shoichi Yamamoto (Local Historian)

Chairman of the Yokosuka Kaikoku (Open Port) History Research Society, and a member of Yokosuka City’s Cultural Administration Expert Committee and Cultural Promotion Council. While running a long-established bookstore dating back to the Edo period, he actively shares the appeal of local history in areas such as Uraga and Yokosuka through school visits, lectures, and community events.

Contact

Yokosuka City
Culture, Sports and Tourism Department – Tourism Division
Tel: +81-46-822-9397