Yokosuka Arts Theatre opened in February 1994 on the site of the former EM Club (US Navy Enlisted Club), the birthplace of postwar jazz in Japan, as a place to connect people and culture and enrich the lives of Yokosuka citizens. The EM Club was the birthplace of postwar jazz in Japan, and world-famous entertainers such as Louis Armstrong frequently came to perform there immediately after the war. In addition, musicians who would later become representative of Japan, such as George Kawaguchi and Hara Nobuo, gave passionate performances, spreading the flavor of authentic American music throughout the country.
It consists of two theaters with different faces: the Large Theater (Yokosuka Arts Theater) and the Small Theater (Yokosuka Bayside Pocket). Since its opening, it has hosted numerous performances of leading operas, ballets, and classical music from Japan and abroad, and has become a hub for arts, culture, and excitement as a symbol of the vibrant city of Yokosuka.