News Stories

Yamaguchi Track Association hosts US-Japan friendship softball tournament - Softball players warm up during a U.S.-Japan friendship softball tournament in Iwakuni City, Japan, May 20, 2018. The tournament was hosted by the Yamaguchi Track Association to strengthen the relationship between Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents and Japanese residents. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Seth Rosenberg)

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents pose for a photo during a Japanese cooking class at Santopia in Otake, Japan, July 25, 2017. The air station residents traveled with the Cultural Adaptation Program to partake in the class where they learned to properly prepare and cook sushi, tempura and a Japanese pudding dessert. The class gave a common purpose for participants to work together and learn Japanese cooking skills that can be utilized within their own homes. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents pose for a photo during a Japanese cooking class at Santopia in Otake, Japan, July 25, 2017. The air station residents traveled with the Cultural Adaptation Program to partake in the class where they learned to properly prepare and cook sushi, tempura and a Japanese pudding dessert. The class gave a common purpose for participants to work together and learn Japanese cooking skills that can be utilized within their own homes. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 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. 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)

Kevin Barr, a contestant at the 55th Annual Japanese and English Speech Contest, delivers his speech in Japanese at Iwakuni Sinfonia in Iwakuni City, Japan, Nov. 13, 2016. Barr won 3rd place in the advanced Japanese division with his speech “Heiwa na sekai”. Japanese students delivered speeches in English and Americans in Japanese, while being critiqued on voice control, fluency and overall performance. The speech contest broke through language barriers and cultural differences, creating a stronger relationship between Japanese and Americans. (U.S, Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera) - Kevin Barr, a contestant at the 55th Annual Japanese and English Speech Contest, delivers his speech in Japanese at Iwakuni Sinfonia in Iwakuni City, Japan, Nov. 13, 2016. Barr won 3rd place in the advanced Japanese division with his speech “Heiwa na sekai”. Japanese students delivered speeches in English and Americans in Japanese, while being critiqued on voice control, fluency and overall performance. The speech contest broke through language barriers and cultural differences, creating a stronger relationship between Japanese and Americans. (U.S, Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

U.S. Marines and Sailors from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni march with members of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Fleet Air Wing 31 and Japanese civilians during the 60th Annual Iwakuni Festival in Iwakuni City, Japan, Oct. 16, 2016. The goal of the festival is to enrich the Iwakuni image, show the development of the community and build relationships between Iwakuni civilians. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson) - U.S. Marines and Sailors from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni march with members of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Fleet Air Wing 31 and Japanese civilians during the 60th Annual Iwakuni Festival in Iwakuni City, Japan, Oct. 16, 2016. The goal of the festival is to enrich the Iwakuni image, show the development of the community and build relationships between Iwakuni civilians. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson)

Athletes pose for a group photo after finishing a duathlon during the Special Olympics Nippon Hiroshima at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 2, 2016. Activities held at the Special Olympics included basketball, futsal, tennis, bowling and a duathlon. The Special Olympics instills confidence, inspires a sense of competition and improves health through the transformative power of sports. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson) - Athletes pose for a group photo after finishing a duathlon during the Special Olympics Nippon Hiroshima at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 2, 2016. Activities held at the Special Olympics included basketball, futsal, tennis, bowling and a duathlon. The Special Olympics instills confidence, inspires a sense of competition and improves health through the transformative power of sports. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson)

A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Repair and Supply Facility Petroleum Terminal unit military working dog handler searches for hidden explosives during joint training with Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni’s Provost Marshal’s Office K-9 unit and Hiroshima Prefectural Police Headquarters officers at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. Handlers and their military working dogs train regularly in a variety of areas such as locating explosives, narcotics, conducting patrols and human tracking in order to become a more effective team. Marines placed explosives in hidden locations before handlers and their K-9’s arrived, resulting in a more cautious and thorough search, increasing the overall training effectiveness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson) - A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Repair and Supply Facility Petroleum Terminal unit military working dog handler searches for hidden explosives during joint training with Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni’s Provost Marshal’s Office K-9 unit and Hiroshima Prefectural Police Headquarters officers at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. Handlers and their military working dogs train regularly in a variety of areas such as locating explosives, narcotics, conducting patrols and human tracking in order to become a more effective team. Marines placed explosives in hidden locations before handlers and their K-9’s arrived, resulting in a more cautious and thorough search, increasing the overall training effectiveness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson)

Students from Noda Gakuen High School in Yamaguchi City and Matthew C. Perry High School at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, participate in a drama class at MCAS Iwakuni April 21, 2016. Events like these help secure the two nations’ relationship with positive activities that educate students about each other’s culture. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Students from Noda Gakuen High School in Yamaguchi City and Matthew C. Perry High School at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, participate in a drama class at MCAS Iwakuni April 21, 2016. Events like these help secure the two nations’ relationship with positive activities that educate students about each other’s culture. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Station residents and Japanese participants begin a half marathon during the 49th Kintai Marathon on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan April 17, 2016. With more than 500 athletes, the marathon is one of the few events that invites Japanese citizens on the air station and provides a great opportunity for MCAS Iwakuni personnel to show support of their host nation through running, said Mai Tajima, SemperFit recreation specialist. The full marathon first place for the men was Yoshihisa Nagashita, 34, completing at 2 hours, 40 minutes, 21 seconds, and for the women was Hitomi Matsubara, 45, completing at 3:27:25. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan D. Wicks /Released) - Station residents and Japanese participants begin a half marathon during the 49th Kintai Marathon on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan April 17, 2016. With more than 500 athletes, the marathon is one of the few events that invites Japanese citizens on the air station and provides a great opportunity for MCAS Iwakuni personnel to show support of their host nation through running, said Mai Tajima, SemperFit recreation specialist. The full marathon first place for the men was Yoshihisa Nagashita, 34, completing at 2 hours, 40 minutes, 21 seconds, and for the women was Hitomi Matsubara, 45, completing at 3:27:25. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan D. Wicks /Released)

Dr. Suzanne Landrum, principal of Matthew C. Perry Elementary School, plays the drums with a local drum group, “Marifu Daiko”, during the Info Expo inside the Club Iwakuni Grand Ballroom aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 12, 2015. The group includes station residents and local Japanese drummers. The Info Expo provided an opportunity for station residents to familiarize themselves with services offered on and off base as well as travel, shopping, and cultural experiences available. - Dr. Suzanne Landrum, principal of Matthew C. Perry Elementary School, plays the drums with a local drum group, “Marifu Daiko”, during the Info Expo inside the Club Iwakuni Grand Ballroom aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 12, 2015. The group includes station residents and local Japanese drummers. The Info Expo provided an opportunity for station residents to familiarize themselves with services offered on and off base as well as travel, shopping, and cultural experiences available.