Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and Japanese residents, students, and leaders take part in kakizome, at Waki Elementary School, Waki Town, Japan, Jan. 11, 2019. Kakizome is the first calligraphy writing of the year that sets the writers goals for the New Year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Triton Lai) - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and Japanese residents, students, and leaders take part in kakizome, at Waki Elementary School, Waki Town, Japan, Jan. 11, 2019. Kakizome is the first calligraphy writing of the year that sets the writers goals for the New Year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Triton Lai)

Station residents and Japanese participants begin a half marathon during the 49th Kintai Marathon on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan April 17, 2016. With more than 500 athletes, the marathon is one of the few events that invites Japanese citizens on the air station and provides a great opportunity for MCAS Iwakuni personnel to show support of their host nation through running, said Mai Tajima, SemperFit recreation specialist. The full marathon first place for the men was Yoshihisa Nagashita, 34, completing at 2 hours, 40 minutes, 21 seconds, and for the women was Hitomi Matsubara, 45, completing at 3:27:25. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan D. Wicks /Released) - Station residents and Japanese participants begin a half marathon during the 49th Kintai Marathon on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan April 17, 2016. With more than 500 athletes, the marathon is one of the few events that invites Japanese citizens on the air station and provides a great opportunity for MCAS Iwakuni personnel to show support of their host nation through running, said Mai Tajima, SemperFit recreation specialist. The full marathon first place for the men was Yoshihisa Nagashita, 34, completing at 2 hours, 40 minutes, 21 seconds, and for the women was Hitomi Matsubara, 45, completing at 3:27:25. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan D. Wicks /Released)

Matthew C. Perry Elementary and High School students on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and Japanese students from the surrounding area participated in the 6th Annual Friendship Concert at Sinfonia Iwakuni Concert Hall, Iwakuni City, Feb. 20, 2016. The students practiced together weekly in preparation for the concert. Events like these allow the children of both nations to learn to work together despite language barriers and tighten the friendship between the U.S. and Japan. - Matthew C. Perry Elementary and High School students on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and Japanese students from the surrounding area participated in the 6th Annual Friendship Concert at Sinfonia Iwakuni Concert Hall, Iwakuni City, Feb. 20, 2016. The students practiced together weekly in preparation for the concert. Events like these allow the children of both nations to learn to work together despite language barriers and tighten the friendship between the U.S. and Japan.

Participants pose for a group photo at the end of Cultural Day in Tsuzu, Japan, Dec. 12, 2015. The event provides both the American and Japanese communities an opportunity to interact, learn about each other’s culture, and make new friends through games, food, and arts and crafts. Visitors participated in a variety of activities such as mochi pounding, making wooden flutes, walking on bamboo stilts, and much more. - Participants pose for a group photo at the end of Cultural Day in Tsuzu, Japan, Dec. 12, 2015. The event provides both the American and Japanese communities an opportunity to interact, learn about each other’s culture, and make new friends through games, food, and arts and crafts. Visitors participated in a variety of activities such as mochi pounding, making wooden flutes, walking on bamboo stilts, and much more.

Kaede Nursing Home residents painted Christmas ornaments during the National Honor Society’s visit to the home in Iwakuni Yamaguchi, Japan, Nov. 17, 2015. The National Honor Society students visited this home for the first time in 2014 and were invited to come back again. Events like this show the local community that station residents care about them and want to build bonds. - Kaede Nursing Home residents painted Christmas ornaments during the National Honor Society’s visit to the home in Iwakuni Yamaguchi, Japan, Nov. 17, 2015. The National Honor Society students visited this home for the first time in 2014 and were invited to come back again. Events like this show the local community that station residents care about them and want to build bonds.

Japanese children from schools in the local area and children from Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan, participate in the Japan-U.S. Friendship Kid's Soccer Event coordinated by the Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau at the Suo-Oshima Town Athletics Track and Field in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 27, 2015. This annual event serves as an opportunity for American and Japanese children to interact and help build bonds between the people of the U.S. and Japan. - Japanese children from schools in the local area and children from Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan, participate in the Japan-U.S. Friendship Kid's Soccer Event coordinated by the Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau at the Suo-Oshima Town Athletics Track and Field in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 27, 2015. This annual event serves as an opportunity for American and Japanese children to interact and help build bonds between the people of the U.S. and Japan.

Visitors wait in line to enter a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker during the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force/Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day 2015 Air Show aboard MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, May 3, 2015. This year the event expanded to combine both the Fleet Air Wing 31 annual Open House and the traditional MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day, resulting in the first ever joint Friendship Day air show. The event allowed visitors a chance to see the military installation and interact with Japanese and American service members while enjoying performances from the Breitling Wingwalkers, Blue Impulse and much more. - Visitors wait in line to enter a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker during the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force/Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day 2015 Air Show aboard MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, May 3, 2015. This year the event expanded to combine both the Fleet Air Wing 31 annual Open House and the traditional MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day, resulting in the first ever joint Friendship Day air show. The event allowed visitors a chance to see the military installation and interact with Japanese and American service members while enjoying performances from the Breitling Wingwalkers, Blue Impulse and much more.

Service members teach Japanese students English at Josho Hoikuen in Iwakuni City, Japan, during a community relations preschool event conducted by the Marine Memorial Chapel aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 10, 2015. Whenever Americans visit the students flip their name tag over so that the English translation is showing. - Service members teach Japanese students English at Josho Hoikuen in Iwakuni City, Japan, during a community relations preschool event conducted by the Marine Memorial Chapel aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 10, 2015. Whenever Americans visit the students flip their name tag over so that the English translation is showing.

Students from Josho Hoikuen in Iwakuni City, Japan, listen to a service member from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni read English books to them during a community relations preschool event hosted by the Marine Memorial Chapel, Jan. 13, 2015. Volunteers used picture books to teach the children English. - Students from Josho Hoikuen in Iwakuni City, Japan, listen to a service member from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni read English books to them during a community relations preschool event hosted by the Marine Memorial Chapel, Jan. 13, 2015. Volunteers used picture books to teach the children English.

Students from Higashi Junior High School perform during the holiday concert, Dec. 15, 2014, held at the Marine Memorial Chapel aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The concert was held for students from Higashi Junior High School, Agenosho Elementary School and Matthew C. Perry Schools. - Students from Higashi Junior High School perform during the holiday concert, Dec. 15, 2014, held at the Marine Memorial Chapel aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The concert was held for students from Higashi Junior High School, Agenosho Elementary School and Matthew C. Perry Schools.