Yoshihiko Fukuda, front right, the mayor of Iwakuni City, watches as members of the Kurasu, Bugz and Inferno Crew motorcycle clubs ride their motorcycles in Iwakuni City, Japan, Sept. 14, 2018. The clubs were at the Iwakuni City Hall in order to present approximately 2,500 dollars to the city. The money was raised in August and was donated to the local area after excessive rainfall flooded western Japan in early July. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew Jones)

Photo by Cpl. Andrew Jones

Motorcycle clubs give back to Iwakuni City

18 Sep 2018 | Cpl. Andrew Jones Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

IWAKUNI CITY, Japan (Sept. 18, 2018) -- Members of the Kurasu, Bugz and Inferno Crew motorcycle clubs presented money for flood relief to Yoshihiko Fukuda, the mayor of Iwakuni City, in Iwakuni City, Japan, Sept. 14, 2018.

In August, Karasu, also known as Black Crow, motorcycle club held a gathering for motorcycle clubs from across Japan in order to raise money for victims of flooding that occurred in western Japan in early July this year. Hundreds of people attended the event, and they raised approximately 2,500 dollars for the flood relief.

The Karasu Motorcycle club is based out of Iwakuni City and consists of Japanese citizens, American and Japanese contractors and U.S. service members from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, who all share the common interest in motorcycles.

“What we hope is that they see us in a positive light,” said U.S. Navy Aviation Structural Mechanic Chief Petty Officer Gregory Messner, the vice president of Karasu who is stationed at MCAS Iwakuni with Fleet Readiness Center, Western Pacific. “We want to provide to the community, and we’re not a bunch of hoodlums that want to create a ruckus. We’re motorcycle enthusiasts, and we want to give back.”

Messner said that the only requirement for joining the club is a vested interested in motorcycles, brotherhood and the desire to be a part of something larger than yourself.