Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Photo by Lance Cpl. Triton Lai - Students from Iwakuni Middle School walk through a tunnel of arms during a cultural exchange event at Kawashimo Junior High School, Iwakuni City, Japan, Feb. 11, 2020. This annual event allows middle school students from two different cultures to interact with each other.The exchange provided an opportunity for children from the air station to have a friendly competition with local Japanese students. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Triton Lai)

MCAS Iwakuni residents stir together a relationship - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents and Japanese teachers participate in a cooking class during a community cultural exchange with local Japanese children at Tsuzu Elementary School, Iwakuni City, Jan. 25, 2020. The exchange included an opportunity for participants to experience Japanese culture through games as well as a cooking class. (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) - 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)

Relay Marathon; Friendship runs deep - U.S. Marines and sailors from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni and local Japanese residents participate in the Iwakuni Friendship Relay Marathon in Iwakuni City, Dec. 1, 2019. The marathon was a 1.5km relay course around Go! Go! Field at Atago Hills Sports Complex. This annual event between MCAS Iwakuni and Iwakuni City is held to build comradery in the Iwakuni community and let the participants run in a friendly competition. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Triton Lai)

Japanese and MCAS Iwakuni residents compete together in Undokai event - Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni and Iwakuni City residents compete in a game of tug-of-war during the Undokai children’s sports event at Atago Sports Complex in Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 23, 2019. The Undokai children’s sports event consisted of six events that gave station residents the opportunity to compete in team-building games alongside Iwakuni locals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Trista Whited)

U.S. Marines and JMSDF Soldiers conduct MWD detection training exercises - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nicholas Rice, a military working dog handler for the Provost Marshal Office with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, conducts military working dog detection training at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Nov. 20, 2019. The training was part of a joint force detection exercise with Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) soldiers. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Triton Lai)

MCAS Iwakuni residents make engraved Tenkoku stamps - Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni residents pose for a photo after a class at the Atago Lotus Cultural Center in Iwakuni City, Japan, Nov. 14, 2019. The trip was hosted by the Cultural Adaptation Program which gave station residents the opportunity to learn the history of Monk Dokyuru and the stamp he brought to Iwakuni. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Trista Whited)

Japanese American Society Iwakuni hosts speech contest - Rayna Ralston, a student at Iwakuni Middle School, gives a speech during the 58th annual Japanese and English speech contest in Iwakuni City, Japan, Nov. 17, 2019. The speech contest is held for participants to experience each other’s culture by learning and reciting a speech in their counterparts’ language. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Triton Lai)

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents and Iwakuni locals pose for a photo during a Cultural Adaptation Program trip to the Iwakuni Shirohebi Shrine in Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 1, 2019. The visit to the shrine gave station residents the opportunity to learn the history of, and interact with, the white snake species.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angelo Sagum) - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents and Iwakuni locals pose for a photo during a Cultural Adaptation Program trip to the Iwakuni Shirohebi Shrine in Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 1, 2019. The visit to the shrine gave station residents the opportunity to learn the history of, and interact with, the white snake species.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angelo Sagum)

Iwakuni City celebrates 63rd Iwakuni Matsuri Festival - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Lance Lewis, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, dances in the 63rd Iwakuni Matsuri parade in Iwakuni City, Japan, Oct. 20, 2019. The Iwakuni Matsuri Festival is an annual festival and parade that features the local community and local organizations coming together to promote safety and development in the city. (Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Triton Lai)