The area around the base of Mount Fuji has been associated with the military since medieval times. The samurai of the Kamakura Shogunate conducted military training in this area in the 15th century. In the modern era, the large East Fuji Maneuver Area was established by the Imperial Japanese Army as a training facility, and several training bases were established in the area. After the surrender of Japan at the end of World War II, these bases were occupied by the United States Army, and were designated Camp Fuji McNair, North Camp, Middle Camp, and South Camp. Half of North Camp was turned over to the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in 1953, while the other half (across the street from present-day Camp Fuji) was eventually turned over to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) where it is now JGSDF Camp Takigahara.