the core hospital (headquarters of u.s. naval hospital, yokosuka) is located on the grounds of the original hospital compound built in 1881 for the imperial japanese navy. earthquake and fire destroyed those buildings in 1923. the imperial japanese navy rebuilt the hospital in february 1931 as a medical center and training school. at the end of world war ii, american occupational forces used the facility as a 250-bed hospital dispensary. on september 11, 1950, at the beginning of the korean war, the hospital was established.