MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Volunteer service members along with various Japanese organizations, including Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force and the Tsuzumigaura Area Social Welfare Association, gathered at Tsuzumigaura Beach in an effort to clean up seaweed, driftwood and other sources of natural debris from the local area Thursday.
The beach clean-up comprised of approximately 400 people, cleared the way for Iwakuni City to reopen the beach to swimmers next Thursday.
“This has been going on for almost 20 years now,” said Hiroaki Maeno, leader of the Tsuzu branch of Iwakuni Welfare Association. “It’s very important to the community because this is not a human made area. This is all natural and is the only place to swim on a beach in Iwakuni.”
Service members helping out the local beach were enthusiastic about working with the local community and the good that was being done.
“It’s good being able to help out the community to show that the U.S. supports them just as they support us because we are in their community,” said Lance Cpl. Jonathon T. Jackson, volunteer and Aurora, Il. native. “We need to show them that there are also benefits to having Americans in Japan.”
The hot morning sun shone over the volunteers as they vigorously worked, cutting weeds and trimming brushes. They completed their mission after only an hour and a half of work and collected approximately 4.2 tons of garbage.
“It was super hot out here today. It was really humid too, it made you know that you were working,” said Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeremy A. Zulz, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 ordnance and Austin, Ky. native. “If you had picture of the beach before and after you could really see how much work was done. By the amount of trash, grass and wood we picked up you can really tell there was a huge difference made today.”
Most volunteers were really happy with the work they accomplished and some can’t wait to help out again.
“This is my first time doing good community relations in Japan and I would definitely do it again because it’s important we show them we care, because we are in their country using their facilities,” said Zulz.
Tsuzu Beach will be open to the public starting at 9 a.m. July 20 and will close on August 31.