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.

Photo by Courtesy photo by MCCS Semper Fit

Building bonds: Suo-Oshima hosts friendship soccer meet

27 Sep 2015 | Cpl. Carlos Cruz Jr. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

SUO-OSHIMA TOWN ATHLETICS TRACK AND FIELD, Yamaguchi, Japan --

Children from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, participated 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, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 27, 2015.

This annual event serves as a way for American and Japanese children to interact with each other to solidify the growing friendship between the U.S. and Japan.

Twenty-five children from the station, ages 7-10, integrated with 20 Japanese children and then separated into five teams for the event. Children spent the day learning each other’s culture, performing warm up drills and competing in a tournament.

“The games were phenomenal,” said Keith Carr, an event coordinator with Marine Corps Community Services. “They had ice breakers to get the kids familiar with each other and a lot of our kids spoke some Japanese so they were able to communicate fairly easily.”

The children were not the only ones who were given the opportunity to interact with the Japanese locals. Parents, coaches and even the station commanding officer had the chance to socialize with families and coaches of the Japanese children and Japanese government officials as well.

“Not only were the coaches available to help organize the events and assist with following the rules, but we even had Col. Boucher and the director general of the CSDB out there participating as well,” said Carr. “It was awesome. They were leading by example.”

According to Lance Cpl. Rachael B. Rayos, a food service specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, the children enjoyed it so much that they never wanted it to end. She added that it was an amazing new experience for her and plans to participate again next year.

“The kids didn’t want to leave at all,” said Rayos. “They were all sun burned, and I was like, ‘You guys don’t want to hydrate or just go to sleep?’ And they just screamed they want to play again. I couldn’t believe it.”

Japanese and U.S. officials work together to make this event happen every year and aim to continue to make it more effective.