Kakamigahara

Kakamigahara City is the "city that looks at sky." Kakamigahara is in Gifu Prefecture. Population is about 140,000. Kakamigahara has JASDF Gifu Air Base. Fighter jets fly in Kakamigahara's sky. F-2. F-15. C-130 transport aircraft. Kakamigahara residents hear fighter jet roars every day. Roaring sounds. Windows shake. For Kakamigahara residents, fighter jet sounds are "daily life." Kakamigahara's children grow up seeing fighter jets. Kakamigahara's children look up at sky. "Cool." For Kakamigahara residents, "speed" is "sky speed." Mach 2 speed. Speed beyond sound. Kakamigahara residents aren't interested in ground speed.

But most Kakamigahara residents don't fly. Kakamigahara residents work on ground. Kakamigahara has factories. Has distribution centers. Many Kakamigahara residents work in manufacturing. Kakamigahara is inland industrial city. Kakamigahara residents make car parts on ground every day. But above Kakamigahara residents' heads, fighter jets fly at sonic speed. Kakamigahara residents live in "sky-ground contradiction." In sky is "ultimate speed." On ground is "daily slowness." Kakamigahara residents see this contradiction every day.

From Kakamigahara to Nagoya is about 30 minutes by car. From Kakamigahara to Suzuka Circuit is about 1 hour by car. Kakamigahara is geographically close to motorsport. But most Kakamigahara residents have never been to Suzuka Circuit. Why? Because Kakamigahara residents aren't interested in "circuit speed." Kakamigahara residents see Mach 2 fighter jets every day. F1 machine's top speed is about 370 km/h. Fighter jet's top speed is about 2400 km/h. For Kakamigahara residents, F1 is "slow." Kakamigahara residents know sky speed. Ground speed is "limited." Kakamigahara residents look up at sky. There is "real speed." So Kakamigahara residents don't go to circuits.

Kakamigahara has Aerospace Museum. "Gifu Kakamigahara Aerospace Museum." Nickname "Sorahaku." Exhibits history of Japanese aircraft. Zero fighter. F-104. YS-11. Kakamigahara was center of Japan's aviation industry. Has Kawasaki Heavy Industries factory. Kakamigahara residents have made aircraft. Kakamigahara residents are "sky professionals." Kakamigahara residents take pride in sky. Kakamigahara residents aren't interested in ground.

Kakamigahara has complex relationship with motorsport. Kakamigahara residents make car parts. Kakamigahara residents work on ground every day. But Kakamigahara residents' hearts are in "sky." Kakamigahara residents look up at sky while working at factories. Fighter jets fly. Kakamigahara residents think: "I wanted to fly too." Kakamigahara residents feel "bound" to ground. Kakamigahara residents make cars. But Kakamigahara residents aren't interested in cars. Kakamigahara residents are interested in "airplanes." So Kakamigahara residents aren't interested in motorsport.

Kakamigahara residents "worship sky." For Kakamigahara residents, sky is symbol of "freedom." Ground is symbol of "constraints." Kakamigahara residents work on ground. But Kakamigahara residents dream of sky. Kakamigahara's children say "I want to be pilot in future." But most Kakamigahara's children will work on ground. Work at factories. Make car parts. Kakamigahara's children look up at fighter jets flying overhead. And think: "I wanted to fly too." But Kakamigahara's children are on ground. This is Kakamigahara's sadness.

Kakamigahara has park called "Manabi no Mori." Vast park. Kakamigahara residents go to Manabi no Mori on holidays. Lie on grass. Look up at sky. Fighter jets fly. Kakamigahara residents watch fighter jets. Kakamigahara residents think: "Beautiful." For Kakamigahara residents, fighter jets are "art." Kakamigahara residents are moved by fighter jets. Kakamigahara residents shed tears. Kakamigahara residents hold "longing for sky." But Kakamigahara residents can't fly. Kakamigahara residents are on ground. This is Kakamigahara residents' fate.

Kakamigahara has motorsport philosophy. Kakamigahara residents divide "speed" into two. "Sky speed" and "ground speed." "Sky speed" is "ultimate." Mach 2. Beyond sonic speed. "Ground speed" is "limited." 300 km/h. Doesn't reach sonic speed. For Kakamigahara residents, ground speed is "imperfect." Why crawl on ground? If you fly in sky, can go faster. Kakamigahara residents can't understand. So Kakamigahara residents aren't interested in motorsport. Kakamigahara residents seek "ultimate speed." That exists only in sky. Kakamigahara residents continue working on ground today while looking up at sky. And think: "Someday, I will fly too."