Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

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)

MCAS Iwakuni residents make engraved Tenkoku stamps - Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni residents pose for a photo after a class at the Atago Lotus Cultural Center in Iwakuni City, Japan, Nov. 14, 2019. The trip was hosted by the Cultural Adaptation Program which gave station residents the opportunity to learn the history of Monk Dokyuru and the stamp he brought to Iwakuni. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Trista Whited)

MCAS Iwakuni residents receive a delicous culture lesson - U.S. Marines and families from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni participate in a community cultural exchange with local Japanese children at Tsuzu Elementary School, Iwakuni City, Japan, Aug. 29, 2019. The exchange provided an arts and crafts class as well as a cooking class. Participants learned how to make gyoza and residents were given an opportunity to experience Japanese culture. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Triton Lai)

New experiences bloom: Flower arrangement and farm visit - Marine Corps Station (MCAS) Iwakuni residents and local Japanese make flower arrangements in Tada, Iwakuni, Japan, July 12, 2018. The flower arrangement and farm visit was held in support of the Cultural Adaptation Program to give MCAS Iwakuni residents the opportunity to experience Japanese culture. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Angelo A. Sagum)

Station residents shop for experience at local wholesale food market - A Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni resident takes a photo at a wholesale market in Iwakuni City, Japan, May 19, 2018. Station residents visited the market in order to learn what was available to buy and to advertise it to MCAS Iwakuni residents. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lauren Brune)

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)

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents and local Japanese volunteers participate in a Cultural Adaptation Program rice-planting event in Iwakuni City, Japan, June 10, 2017. The event is held annually in June, after the rice seeds that were sown during April and May are grown and ready to be planted. Station residents have been participating in the event for more than 10 years. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents and local Japanese volunteers participate in a Cultural Adaptation Program rice-planting event in Iwakuni City, Japan, June 10, 2017. The event is held annually in June, after the rice seeds that were sown during April and May are grown and ready to be planted. Station residents have been participating in the event for more than 10 years. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Ryan McNeil, a Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni resident, picks green tea leaves during a Cultural Adaption Program tea harvesting event in Iwakuni City, May 2, 2017. The Cultural Adaptation Program gave station residents the opportunity to experience the Japanese culture alongside elementary and high school students, nursing home residents and other Japanese locals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - Ryan McNeil, a Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni resident, picks green tea leaves during a Cultural Adaption Program tea harvesting event in Iwakuni City, May 2, 2017. The Cultural Adaptation Program gave station residents the opportunity to experience the Japanese culture alongside elementary and high school students, nursing home residents and other Japanese locals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Japanese locals make their way toward the Kumano Brush festival in Kumano, Japan, Sept. 22, 2016. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents traveled to Kumano with the Cultural Adaptation Program to experience calligraphy, tradition, history and entertainment the festival offered. After attending the festival the residents visited the Fudenosato Kobo Museum where they learned how calligraphy equipment is made. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - Japanese locals make their way toward the Kumano Brush festival in Kumano, Japan, Sept. 22, 2016. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents traveled to Kumano with the Cultural Adaptation Program to experience calligraphy, tradition, history and entertainment the festival offered. After attending the festival the residents visited the Fudenosato Kobo Museum where they learned how calligraphy equipment is made. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

Residents from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni pose with Japanese civilians and volunteers for a group photo during a Mochitsuki – rice pounding – event at Tenno Elementary School in Tenno, Japan, April 16, 2016. The event offered residents the opportunity to interact with Japanese civilians and experience a different part of their culture. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Residents from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni pose with Japanese civilians and volunteers for a group photo during a Mochitsuki – rice pounding – event at Tenno Elementary School in Tenno, Japan, April 16, 2016. The event offered residents the opportunity to interact with Japanese civilians and experience a different part of their culture. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)