News Stories

Photo by Cpl. Calah Thompson - Yasufumi Nakamura, the president of the Momiji Manju Yamadaya factory, gives a presentation to members of a cultural adaptations trip on the process of creating the momiji manju at Hatsukaichi, Japan, May 23, 2023. Cultural adaptations is a program through Marine Corps Community Services that gives residents of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni opportunities to immerse themselves in the community and culture of Iwakuni and of Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Calah Thompson)

Americans learn Japanese history through Hiroshima Peace Park visit - Mikie Watanabe, a cultural adaptation specialist with the Cultural Adaptation Program, at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, poses for a photo at the Peace Park in Hiroshima, Japan, April 26, 2019. Watanabe coordinated the Hiroshima Peace Park Visit for participants to learn more about Japanese culture and help strengthen the positive relationship between the U.S. and Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Triton Lai)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpls. Jackson Stumb, left, and Benjamin Irish, right, Special Reaction Team (SRT) members for Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, conduct breaching techniques during cross training exercises with the Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefectural Police Headquarters at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, March 28, 2017. Members with the Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefectural Police Headquarters traveled to the air station to observe SRT conduct high-risk training scenarios. The training ranged from room-clearing, breaching, communication and non-lethal take-down techniques. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpls. Jackson Stumb, left, and Benjamin Irish, right, Special Reaction Team (SRT) members for Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, conduct breaching techniques during cross training exercises with the Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefectural Police Headquarters at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, March 28, 2017. Members with the Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefectural Police Headquarters traveled to the air station to observe SRT conduct high-risk training scenarios. The training ranged from room-clearing, breaching, communication and non-lethal take-down techniques. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 communicate to each other after loading quadcon shipping containers onto a seven-ton medium tactical vehicle replacement during exercise Kamoshika Wrath 17-1 at Haramura Maneuver Area, Hiroshima, Japan, Jan. 27, 2017. The Marines worked through inclement weather conditions and a short timeline to build a 96-foot by 96-foot vertical takeoff and landing pad. The exercise is a biannual, unit-level training exercise that is primarily focused on establishing a forward operating base and providing airfield operation services. MWSS-171 trains throughout the year completing exercises like Kamoshika Wrath to enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Donato Maffin) - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 communicate to each other after loading quadcon shipping containers onto a seven-ton medium tactical vehicle replacement during exercise Kamoshika Wrath 17-1 at Haramura Maneuver Area, Hiroshima, Japan, Jan. 27, 2017. The Marines worked through inclement weather conditions and a short timeline to build a 96-foot by 96-foot vertical takeoff and landing pad. The exercise is a biannual, unit-level training exercise that is primarily focused on establishing a forward operating base and providing airfield operation services. MWSS-171 trains throughout the year completing exercises like Kamoshika Wrath to enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 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) - 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)

Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 participate in a hike during exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 12, 2016. The week-long exercise focused on reinforcing skills that Marines learned throughout their military occupational specialty schooling and during Marine Combat Training in order to maintain situational readiness. Motor transportation operators, bulk fuels specialists, and field radio operators trained in various areas including direct refueling, recovery and general engineering operations and established a tactical motor pool. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 participate in a hike during exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 12, 2016. The week-long exercise focused on reinforcing skills that Marines learned throughout their military occupational specialty schooling and during Marine Combat Training in order to maintain situational readiness. Motor transportation operators, bulk fuels specialists, and field radio operators trained in various areas including direct refueling, recovery and general engineering operations and established a tactical motor pool. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Yuki Kintanaka, a student at Bunkyo Women’s University in Hiroshima, Japan, performs a traditional dance for Matthew C. Perry High School students at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Nov. 23, 2015. Bunkyo Women’s University students visited the station to learn about American culture as well as teach the American students a little about their own. School trips like this help the bond between Japan and the U.S. grow stronger. - Yuki Kintanaka, a student at Bunkyo Women’s University in Hiroshima, Japan, performs a traditional dance for Matthew C. Perry High School students at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Nov. 23, 2015. Bunkyo Women’s University students visited the station to learn about American culture as well as teach the American students a little about their own. School trips like this help the bond between Japan and the U.S. grow stronger.

Mikie Watanabe, cultural adaption specialist with the cultural adaption program, speaks to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, residents during a trip to the annual Japanese Calligraphy Brush Festival, in Kumano, Hiroshima Prefecture, Sept. 23, 2015. Guests wandered through the brush decorated city, where they interacted with Japanese locals, practiced their calligraphy skills and enjoyed local cuisine. The cultural adaption program aboard station coordinated this event to provide service members and their families a chance to travel beyond the installations gates and experience the Japanese culture. - Mikie Watanabe, cultural adaption specialist with the cultural adaption program, speaks to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, residents during a trip to the annual Japanese Calligraphy Brush Festival, in Kumano, Hiroshima Prefecture, Sept. 23, 2015. Guests wandered through the brush decorated city, where they interacted with Japanese locals, practiced their calligraphy skills and enjoyed local cuisine. The cultural adaption program aboard station coordinated this event to provide service members and their families a chance to travel beyond the installations gates and experience the Japanese culture.

Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and Sgt. Maj. Keith Massi, sergeant major of MCAS Iwakuni, view replica models of Japanese battleships, aircraft carriers and destroyers while visiting the Kure Maritime Museum in Kure, Hiroshima, Jan. 14, 2015. Maj. Gen. Charles Hudson, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations Pacific, gathered installation commanders, senior enlisted advisors and principle staff aboard MCAS Iwakuni, for the quarterly MCIPAC Camp Commander’s Conference, Jan. 12-15, 2015. - Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and Sgt. Maj. Keith Massi, sergeant major of MCAS Iwakuni, view replica models of Japanese battleships, aircraft carriers and destroyers while visiting the Kure Maritime Museum in Kure, Hiroshima, Jan. 14, 2015. Maj. Gen. Charles Hudson, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations Pacific, gathered installation commanders, senior enlisted advisors and principle staff aboard MCAS Iwakuni, for the quarterly MCIPAC Camp Commander’s Conference, Jan. 12-15, 2015.

Children with the School Age Care aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, hand operate engines at the Transportation Museum in Hiroshima, Japan, Dec. 23, 2014. The SAC took the children to the Transportation Museum to learn about all the different types of transportation used throughout history. - Children with the School Age Care aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, hand operate engines at the Transportation Museum in Hiroshima, Japan, Dec. 23, 2014. The SAC took the children to the Transportation Museum to learn about all the different types of transportation used throughout history.