Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

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)

Halloween Carnival in Iwakuni City creates opportunity to make f - Local Japanese and Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni residents participate in the 2018 Japanese American Society Halloween Carnival in Iwakuni City, Japan, Oct. 19, 2018. The carnival created an opportunity for local Japanese and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents to make friends, enhance the U.S.-Japan alliance and conduct cultural exchanges by participating in the holiday together. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

Local Japanese volunteers with the Japanese American Society perform the Eisa Okinawan Dance during the 60th Annual Culture Festival at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 11, 2017. The festival included Japanese dance performances, decorated exhibits and traditional activities and rituals. JAS continues to bridge the U.S.-Japan friendship by providing quality cultural events and activities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - Local Japanese volunteers with the Japanese American Society perform the Eisa Okinawan Dance during the 60th Annual Culture Festival at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 11, 2017. The festival included Japanese dance performances, decorated exhibits and traditional activities and rituals. JAS continues to bridge the U.S.-Japan friendship by providing quality cultural events and activities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

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)

Makaiya Harris, first place winner of the advanced group, receives a gold medal at the 54th Annual Japanese and English Speech Contest at the Iwakuni Sinfonia in Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 8, 2015. Japanese contestants wrote their own speeches in English and American students delivered theirs in Japanese. The ultimate goal of the speech contest is to promote understanding and friendship between Americans and Japanese. - Makaiya Harris, first place winner of the advanced group, receives a gold medal at the 54th Annual Japanese and English Speech Contest at the Iwakuni Sinfonia in Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 8, 2015. Japanese contestants wrote their own speeches in English and American students delivered theirs in Japanese. The ultimate goal of the speech contest is to promote understanding and friendship between Americans and Japanese.