News Stories

Station residents take to the fields, plant rice - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents visit a farmers market in Iwakuni City, Japan, June 9, 2018. Station residents visited Iwakuni City as a part of a Marine Corps Community Services, Cultural Adaptation Program event in order to plant rice with Japanese residents and learn about traditional rice farming. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Jones)

Americans, Japanese compete in softball tournament - U.S. Marines from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and Japanese nationals play a softball game in Iwakuni City, Japan, April 28, 2018. The softball game was part of a tournament hosted by Marine Corps Community Services intramural sports division as a way for service members and air station residents to bond over a sport that people from both cultures play. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Jones)

Americans, Japanese relay message of friendship - Yoshinbu Tanimoto, left, a Hiroshima resident, and Kathy Chretian, a teacher at Iwakuni Elementary School, pose for a photo during the Iwakuni Friendship Relay Marathon in Iwakuni City, Japan, March 18, 2018. The marathon relay was a family-friendly event open to all ages. Many teams wore themed costumes from popular films, creating an atmosphere filled with laughter and friendly competition. Events like this strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and Japan and represent the purpose of Kizuna Stadium, where the event was held. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Jones)

Leaders walk toward unity - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard F. Fuerst, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, addresses local Japanese news media during the Eighth Joint Leadership Walk in Iwakuni City, Japan, Jan. 31, 2018. The event displayed the effort put forth by MCAS Iwakuni to strengthen the existing relationship with the Japanese community and showcased the working relationship between Japanese leaders and MCAS Iwakuni. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Jones)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, right, and the Honorable Yoshihiko Fukuda, mayor of Iwakuni, wait to cross an intersection during the seventh Joint Leadership Walk down the streets of Iwakuni on July 6, 2016. The last walk took place in December 2015 and continues to be a firm demonstration of the bond and unity between both communities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, right, and the Honorable Yoshihiko Fukuda, mayor of Iwakuni, wait to cross an intersection during the seventh Joint Leadership Walk down the streets of Iwakuni on July 6, 2016. The last walk took place in December 2015 and continues to be a firm demonstration of the bond and unity between both communities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Gary W. Thomason, exeutive officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, discusses military operations with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Mitsuhiko Nakadai, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Capt. Atsushi Tanaka, JMSDF Capt. Madoka Sato and JMSDF Cmdr. Hiroko Takigawa, instructors from the Japanese Joint Staff College, during their visit to the air station in Iwakuni, Japan, May 9, 2016. The Japanese Joint Staff College instructors visited MCAS Iwakuni to learn about Marine Air-Ground Task Force operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Gary W. Thomason, exeutive officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, discusses military operations with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Mitsuhiko Nakadai, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Capt. Atsushi Tanaka, JMSDF Capt. Madoka Sato and JMSDF Cmdr. Hiroko Takigawa, instructors from the Japanese Joint Staff College, during their visit to the air station in Iwakuni, Japan, May 9, 2016. The Japanese Joint Staff College instructors visited MCAS Iwakuni to learn about Marine Air-Ground Task Force operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released)

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Sgt. 1st Class Iwamoto, Japanese interpreter instructor, throws a rubber grenade while conducting a combat fitness test during the Public Affairs Office’s annual English seminar on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 16, 2016. The seminar is held annually by the station Public Affairs Office to help improve upon the JGSDF’s understanding and use of the English language prior to their deployment in support of exercises in both the United States and Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Antonio J. Rubio/Released) - Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Sgt. 1st Class Iwamoto, Japanese interpreter instructor, throws a rubber grenade while conducting a combat fitness test during the Public Affairs Office’s annual English seminar on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 16, 2016. The seminar is held annually by the station Public Affairs Office to help improve upon the JGSDF’s understanding and use of the English language prior to their deployment in support of exercises in both the United States and Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Antonio J. Rubio/Released)

Ambassador Caroline Bouvier Kennedy, U.S. ambassador to Japan, speaks to Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 (VMGR-152) at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 28, 2016. This is Ambassador Kennedy’s first official visit to MCAS Iwakuni. While at the squadron’s hangar, Kennedy viewed a KC-130J Super Hercules, gaining an understanding on the multiple capabilities of the aircraft in the Pacific theater. This visit also helped the ambassador better understand MCAS Iwakuni’s community and witness the ongoing transformation of the air station through the multitude of construction projects. - Ambassador Caroline Bouvier Kennedy, U.S. ambassador to Japan, speaks to Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 (VMGR-152) at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 28, 2016. This is Ambassador Kennedy’s first official visit to MCAS Iwakuni. While at the squadron’s hangar, Kennedy viewed a KC-130J Super Hercules, gaining an understanding on the multiple capabilities of the aircraft in the Pacific theater. This visit also helped the ambassador better understand MCAS Iwakuni’s community and witness the ongoing transformation of the air station through the multitude of construction projects.

Sgt. Ryan Cipkar, left, and Lance Cpl. Miguel Avelar, center, dispose of trash as Lance Cpl. Miguel Moto holds the garbage bag open during a community relations event host by the Single Marine Program aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sep. 4, 2015. Various organizations and tenant units aboard the air station foster the friendship between the U.S. and Japan by conducting these community relations events each year. Cipkar, from Steger, Ill., is a telephone person computer technician with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3. Avelar, San Bernardino, Calif., and Moto, from Taipei, Taiwan, are expeditionary airfield system technician with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. - Sgt. Ryan Cipkar, left, and Lance Cpl. Miguel Avelar, center, dispose of trash as Lance Cpl. Miguel Moto holds the garbage bag open during a community relations event host by the Single Marine Program aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sep. 4, 2015. Various organizations and tenant units aboard the air station foster the friendship between the U.S. and Japan by conducting these community relations events each year. Cipkar, from Steger, Ill., is a telephone person computer technician with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3. Avelar, San Bernardino, Calif., and Moto, from Taipei, Taiwan, are expeditionary airfield system technician with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron.