MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- This year's Friendship Day festivities kicked off Sunday and drew approximately 107,000 spectators from throughout Japan.
Although the focus of the event was the air show and aircraft on display, the underlying theme to this year's event was "Partners for the Preservation of Freedom."
"Each country should work together to do what they can for the preservation of freedom," said Japanese visitor Kazue Miyamoto, about this year's slogan. "I also felt the Station was very welcoming to everyone."
Although there were a few aerial maneuvers to keep the crowd entertained, the majority of what went on at Friendship Day happened less dramatically on the ground. Displays of several types of Japanese and American aircraft were setup on the flight line.
"I had never seen a pilot in a flight suit," Miyamoto said during her first Friendship Day. "I thought he was some kind of construction worker at first. They are so cute in their suits."
This event allowed visitors to get up close and see what types of equipment the American and Japanese military use.
"Friendship Day is a good chance for the Japanese to see how we are helping their country," said Cpl. Joshua Huval, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 administrative clerk. "Also, it gave them a good idea of how we represent our country, and gave them a chance to interact with Americans."
Probably one of the best ways the United States was represented were the display aircraft and their aircrews for people to see and get photos with. The Marines, Air Force and Navy had several types of jets and helicopters on display. The Japan Self-Defense Force had fighter jets as well as larger aircraft representing their services.
Although the day began foggy, which delayed the air shows, the sun broke through and heated things up for the afternoon.
The day gave military enthusiasts, loaded down with camera equipment, the chance to get up close and personal with the aircraft they love to photograph. It also gave children and their families a chance to climb in aircraft and on military equipment, such as trucks with .50-caliber machine guns mounted on the roof.
The day allowed everyone to see a small piece of America and walk away with a better sense of what goes on aboard the Station. For many the best part was not necessarily the death defying maneuvers at hundreds of miles an hour, but rather the friendship that was shared with the Americans.
"The best part of Friendship Day was the contact with the Americans," Miyamoto said. "Even though I could not speak to them, it was good to be there with them."