News Unexploded U.S. one-ton bomb found in Osaka neighbourhood

[thomas]

Quite scary to realise you've been living close to a ton of explosives.

An unexploded U.S.-made bomb believed to date from the Second World War has been found at a housing construction site in a residential area of Minoh, Osaka Prefecture. Its disposal could require the evacuation of nearly 5,000 people. Minoh Mayor Ryo Harada announced the discovery at an emergency news conference at 11 a.m. on 22 July. He said the bomb was unlikely to explode unless it was subjected to a substantial impact. Construction workers found the bomb buried at the site on 17 July, about 300 metres from Hankyu Minoh Station. A house is being built there. A bamboo grove had previously covered the land.

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Construction workers found the bomb buried in the ground on July 17 at a site about 300 meters from Hankyu Minoh Station. The site, where a house is being built, was previously covered by a bamboo grove. The cylindrical metal object measures about 1.8 meters long and 60 centimeters in diameter. It has been identified as a U.S.-made 2,000-pound general-purpose bomb, commonly known in Japan as a one-ton bomb, that is believed to have been dropped during the Pacific War. The bomb weighs about one ton and is believed to contain approximately 500 kilograms of explosives. Its fuse remains attached, although authorities said there was no immediate danger of an explosion.

U.S.-Made One-Ton Bomb Found in Osaka Residential Area

An unexploded U.S.-made bomb believed to date from World War II has been discovered at a housing construction site in a residential district of Minoh, Osaka Prefecture, potentially requiring the evacuation of nearly 5,000 people during its disposal.

newsonjapan.com

 

[dracuella]

Can you imagine being the guy banging your shovel against that the first time? When you realise what that is?

 

[Petaris]

Can you imagine being the guy banging your shovel against that the first time? When you realise what that is?

View attachment 138670

I think I would need to sit down for a bit, very very far away.

 

[johnnyG]

I guess there's some gov't money for extraction and removal of something like this? The SDF? I'd hope it's not on the lot owner.

Or, in some totally crazy quirk, could the lot owner claim ownership? Perhaps after it had been carted away?

Would the lot owner, or the govt agencies doing the removal, be eligible for compensation from the US govt--do they bear or share some responsibility?

And, we know and can see how this bomb has lived its life up to now, but what happens to it once it leaves this unfortunate person's lot? Where is it taken, and what is done with it? (that famous radio line about getting "the rest of the story")

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

The ownership is an interesting question. It is the property of the lot owner? The Japanese government? The U.S. government?

Either way, that's scary. Thank goodness it was found...safely!

 

[thomas]

If Japan's regulations are similar to Europe's, the national government will bear the cost of removal, with the SDF responsible for removing unexploded ordnance. I would assume that, unlike a treasure found on the property, the landowner could not claim ownership, as other laws apply. The possession of explosives is likely prohibited.

Update: Japan still discovers hundreds to more than a thousand unexploded bombs (不発弾 fuhatsudan) each year, most dating from the Allied bombing campaign of 1944–45, particularly by U.S. forces. Germany uncovers some 2,000 tonnes of unexploded wartime munitions every year.

 

[Petaris]

I guess there's some gov't money for extraction and removal of something like this? The SDF? I'd hope it's not on the lot owner.

Or, in some totally crazy quirk, could the lot owner claim ownership? Perhaps after it had been carted away?

Would the lot owner, or the govt agencies doing the removal, be eligible for compensation from the US govt--do they bear or share some responsibility?

And, we know and can see how this bomb has lived its life up to now, but what happens to it once it leaves this unfortunate person's lot? Where is it taken, and what is done with it? (that famous radio line about getting "the rest of the story")

It was too crowded in Osaka and it needed space to run and play and be happy so it is being sent to a farm up-state. Sorry to say it is too long of a trip to visit.

 

[thomas]

And, we know and can see how this bomb has lived its life up to now, but what happens to it once it leaves this unfortunate person's lot? Where is it taken, and what is done with it? (that famous radio line about getting "the rest of the story")

Famous scene from "The English Patient":

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Defused in situ, moved to an explosive ordnance disposal range and detonated.

 

[dracuella]

Famous scene from "The English Patient":

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Defused in situ, moved to an explosive ordnance disposal range and detonated.

I need an emoji for pure and utter relief after a strenuous ordeal after watching that clip, bloody hell!
EDIT: putting the English Patient on my to-watch list as we speak.

 

[thomas]

I need an emoji for pure and utter relief after a strenuous ordeal after watching that clip, bloody hell!
EDIT: putting the English Patient on my to-watch list as we speak.

Has always been among my Top 10!