News Stories

Iwakuni Expo gives residents insight into station, community - Sayaka Takabayashi, right, a Semper Fit fitness instructor with Health Promotions, and Cindy Franz, a recreation assistant with Marine Corps Community Services, demonstrate a kickboxing instruction lesson during the Iwakuni Expo at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 9, 2017. Throughout the expo, residents enjoyed shows by ballroom dancers, Semper Fit Group Exercise Programs and a Japanese dance performance. The expo aimed to give residents an idea of the services, resources and benefits available to them on base and around the community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Friendly Baseball Tournament unites American, Japanese families - Ethan Kowalski, pitcher for the Iwakuni All Stars, begins to pitch during the Youth Sports’ Friendly Baseball Tournament at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 19, 2017. The Marine Corps Community Service’s Semper Fit Program held the Youth Sports tournament to encourage a positive and healthy relationship with the Japanese locals through sports. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Kikuko Shinjo, better known as ‘Shinjo-Sensei,’ an 89 year-old native of Iwakuni and survivor of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima during World War II, poses in front of paper cranes donated to the Children’s Peace Monument at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Japan, July 15, 2016. Shinjo invited a group of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents to help her donate 1,000 paper cranes, which she folded, to the Children’s Peace Monument at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park as a symbol for peace. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin) - Kikuko Shinjo, better known as ‘Shinjo-Sensei,’ an 89 year-old native of Iwakuni and survivor of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima during World War II, poses in front of paper cranes donated to the Children’s Peace Monument at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Japan, July 15, 2016. Shinjo invited a group of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents to help her donate 1,000 paper cranes, which she folded, to the Children’s Peace Monument at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park as a symbol for peace. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin)

Kiyotaka Nozaki, right, Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau deputy procurement director, presents a painting to U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni commanding officer, during the grand opening of the Command Assembly Hall at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, July 1, 2016. Costing approximately $28 million, construction of the building began September 2013 and finished March 2016 with an additional $1.5 million spent furnishing the facility. The old 20,776 square foot theater, which opened in 1954, is scheduled to be demolished in order to expand the Child Development Center. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Kiyotaka Nozaki, right, Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau deputy procurement director, presents a painting to U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni commanding officer, during the grand opening of the Command Assembly Hall at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, July 1, 2016. Costing approximately $28 million, construction of the building began September 2013 and finished March 2016 with an additional $1.5 million spent furnishing the facility. The old 20,776 square foot theater, which opened in 1954, is scheduled to be demolished in order to expand the Child Development Center. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Marines from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni take pictures and enjoy their time during a Single Marine Program trip to Kannon-in Temple in Tottori Sakyu, Japan, March 20, 2016. During the two-day trip, Marines visited the Kannon-in Temple on the eastern side of Tottori City. Oana Ivanoff, Marine Lounge Manager with SMP, said the trip provided Marines the option to explore Japan and its culture at an affordable price, helped build morale and plans to conduct it again in the future. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Marines from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni take pictures and enjoy their time during a Single Marine Program trip to Kannon-in Temple in Tottori Sakyu, Japan, March 20, 2016. During the two-day trip, Marines visited the Kannon-in Temple on the eastern side of Tottori City. Oana Ivanoff, Marine Lounge Manager with SMP, said the trip provided Marines the option to explore Japan and its culture at an affordable price, helped build morale and plans to conduct it again in the future. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Kaede Nursing Home residents painted Christmas ornaments during the National Honor Society’s visit to the home in Iwakuni Yamaguchi, Japan, Nov. 17, 2015. The National Honor Society students visited this home for the first time in 2014 and were invited to come back again. Events like this show the local community that station residents care about them and want to build bonds. - Kaede Nursing Home residents painted Christmas ornaments during the National Honor Society’s visit to the home in Iwakuni Yamaguchi, Japan, Nov. 17, 2015. The National Honor Society students visited this home for the first time in 2014 and were invited to come back again. Events like this show the local community that station residents care about them and want to build bonds.

Station Volunteers look for trash at Futashika Umezu Falls, in Futashika, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, Oct. 16, 2015. The Single Marine Program at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, provides residents volunteer opportunities to build relations with Japanese locals and experience part of the foreign culture. Volunteers enjoyed the scenery of the forest, river and waterfalls, as they picked up trash and debris along the river. - Station Volunteers look for trash at Futashika Umezu Falls, in Futashika, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, Oct. 16, 2015. The Single Marine Program at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, provides residents volunteer opportunities to build relations with Japanese locals and experience part of the foreign culture. Volunteers enjoyed the scenery of the forest, river and waterfalls, as they picked up trash and debris along the river.

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. - 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.

Combat Logistics Company 36 requested the support of Marine Corps Community Services aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, for Exercise Dragon Fire 2015, from July 10 to Aug. 7, at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan. The Tactical Field Exchange markets food products, cold drinks, portable video cameras, hygiene gear and other miscellaneous items. The truck makes those items easily available in the field where there may not be any other place nearby to get them. The items offered by the mobile exchange provide relief to Marines who may have forgot something or want something different than the Meals Ready to Eat they are given. - Combat Logistics Company 36 requested the support of Marine Corps Community Services aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, for Exercise Dragon Fire 2015, from July 10 to Aug. 7, at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan. The Tactical Field Exchange markets food products, cold drinks, portable video cameras, hygiene gear and other miscellaneous items. The truck makes those items easily available in the field where there may not be any other place nearby to get them. The items offered by the mobile exchange provide relief to Marines who may have forgot something or want something different than the Meals Ready to Eat they are given.

A participant hooks bait to his fishing line at the fishing tournament hosted by Marine Corps Community Services aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, at the station harbor, March 28, 2015. MCCS uses these events to help build camaraderie and offer service members a way to relax. This is the second tournament this year and this time they invited members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. - A participant hooks bait to his fishing line at the fishing tournament hosted by Marine Corps Community Services aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, at the station harbor, March 28, 2015. MCCS uses these events to help build camaraderie and offer service members a way to relax. This is the second tournament this year and this time they invited members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.