MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Fleet Air Wing 31 and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni take pleasure in announcing the performers who are planned to participate in the JMSDF/MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day, which will be held on Sunday, May 3. Japanese Air, Maritime and Ground Self-Defense Force service members alongside U.S. Marines, Sailors, and Airmen look forward to welcoming you to our home away from home.
Marking the 47th anniversary of our open house, the JMSDF/MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day offers a full spectrum of entertainment with static displays on the ground and aerial performances. The joint open house will feature U.S. and Japanese aerial demonstration teams, a Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstration, and civilian performers.
The Marines, Sailors, JMSDF personnel and civilian components of MCAS Iwakuni are working hard to make sure we can still safely hold Friendship Day, while visitors are advised things on this announcement may remain subject to change or cancellation at any time without notice.
The event official website – www.iwakuniairshow.com
The event official Facebook – www.facebook.com/MCASIwakuniAirshow
The event HOTLINES – Tel: 0827 (79) 6227 for general information, 0827 (22) 3181 ext. 6180 or ext. 6181 for specific inquiries in Japanese language
Flight Displays:
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ceremonial flight – Iwakuni-based JMSDF aircraft will be pleased to demonstrate a ceremonial flight over their home community.
JMSDF White Arrows – The official acrobatic team of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will join our air show, following their first participation in last year’s event. Established in Oct. 2018, the team is comprised of flight instructors who educate future aviators for the JMSDF at Ozuki Air Base, Yamaguchi. The team will showcase special acrobatic flight techniques featuring the Fuji T-5 aircraft.
https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/atrc/custom1.html
JMSDF US-2 – Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s flying boat US-2 is the face of JMSDF Iwakuni. Designed to provide support for search and rescue operations at sea and on remote islands, US-2 requires only one-fourth of the distance that commercial airliners need for takeoff and landing. JMSDF will display a full-fledged demonstration of its capabilities with a short takeoff, muscle climb, and a slow but smooth flight. All of these capabilities are proudly maintained by JMSDF to save lives in austere aquatic environments.
Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2 – The Japan Air Self-Defense Force will be showcasing its F-2 multirole, single-engine fighter aircraft, which is popular for its air-to-air and air-to-surface capabilities. The F-2 is known for its incredible maneuverability, speed and power. This is an aerial demonstration every aviation enthusiast will want to see.
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force airborne rappelling demonstration – As part of the U.S.-Japan friendship exchange, JGSDF units under the command of the 13th Brigade will participate in Friendship Day 2026. The JGSDF 17th Infantry Regiment, Camp Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi, will be in attendance with their UH-1J multi-role helicopter. Spectators will be thrilled to watch JGSDF rangers rappelling down from the helicopter hovering in the air with a high level of skill and precision.
Team Fastrax – America’s Skydiving Team Fastrax is the largest professional parachute demonstration team in the world. Having performed thousands of exhibition skydives at numbers of locations such as Doha, Qatar, Normandy, France, and here in Iwakuni, Japan, the team is excited to thrill the spectators again in the performance of diving through the sky while flying the bilateral streamers of the U.S.-Japan Alliance.
https://teamfastrax.com
Yoshihide Muroya –Yoshihide Muroya gained experience flying in competitive aerobatic competitions such as the World Aerobatic Championships (WAC). The first Asian pilot joining in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in 2009, and the first Asian pilot to win the world championship title in 2017. Yoshi now holds air shows throughout Japan to generate public awareness in aerobatics, and has helped raise the popularity of the sport not only in his home country of Japan, but also in East Asia, and the rest of the world.
http://www.yoshi-muroya.jp/
Whiskey Papa – Flying for more than 30 years, Masahiro Utsumi (Masa) performs more than 100 aerobatic flights a year. Masa has been performing in air shows in Japan since 2009. Whiskey Papa keeps spectators and aircraft enthusiasts entertained with his signature super-slow roll and vertical maneuvers. Masa always makes time to speak with fans, sign autographs, and take photos after his show.
https://ja14wp.wixsite.com/home/
F-35B Lightning II – The United States Marine Corps F-35B demonstration team takes pleasure in attending Friendship Day 2026. The team, based out of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, California, selected Iwakuni as their only performance location outside of the United States in 2026. The F-35B, a 5th generation short-takeoff, vertical landing (STOVL) stealth fighter, has been based at Iwakuni since 2017 operating as part of the first forward-deployed permanent F-35B squadron under Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
F-35C Lightning II – The United States Navy F-35C demonstration team takes pleasure in visiting Iwakuni, Japan, in 2026. The team based out of Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, California, showcases the world’s only 5th generation carrier-based fighter, and has likewise chosen Iwakuni as their sole performance location outside the U.S. Witness its agility, advanced maneuvers, internal weapons bay, simulated carrier breaks, and more. The F-35C has also called Iwakuni home since November 2024 upon joining Carrier Air Wing (CVW) FIVE.
F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet – The F/A-18 “Rhino” are high performance, twin-engine, and multi-mission tactical aircraft capable across the full mission spectrum as required for carrier-borne mission requirements. In addition to aerial demonstrations, Iwakuni-based Carrier Air Wing FIVE looks forward to welcoming visitors at their ground static displays.
Carrier Air Wing FIVE Flyover – Aircraft assigned to the Iwakuni-based Carrier Air Wing FIVE will perform a flyover with a variety of their aircraft.
Marine Air-Ground Task Force Demonstration – An action-packed demonstration that showcases the versatility and power of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. The MAGTF is the organizational structure unique to the Marine Corps and is made up of four elements: command element, ground combat element, aviation combat element, and logistics combat element. During the MAGTF demonstration, audiences will be thrilled by the extended capabilities of Marine Corps assets to perform in expeditionary environments as various aircraft provide close air support alongside a ground troop insertion.
Ground Events and Static Displays:
On Friendship Day, MCAS Iwakuni will be filled with a full variety of military aircraft and equipment from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force as well as the U.S. Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force.
Subject to change, we currently have numerous U.S. and Japanese aircraft static displays. The planned displays include, but are not limited to, the following: F-35B, F-35C, EA-18G, F/A-18E/F, E-2, CH-53E, KC-130J, UC-12W, CMV-22B, and P-8 from U.S. military inventories. The Japan Self-Defense Force aircraft static displays will include the following: US-2, P-1, EP/OP/UP-3, MCH-101, F-2, F-15, TH-135, TC-90, SH-60J, UH-60J, C-2, AH-1S, AH-64D, CH-101, CH-47, T-5, Japanese V-22 Osprey, E-2D, F-35B, and more.
Additionally, a performance by the JASDF Fancy Drill Team from Hofu Kita Air Base, Yamaguchi, will be held. JASDF aviation cadets will demonstrate their rifle techniques in synchronized movements while in formation.
For those who are interested in heavy-duty military gear, Friendship Day offers a unique opportunity to get a hands-on experience of the ground combat capabilities of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force and U.S. Marine Corps. Heavy equipment, utility equipment, and a wide variety of military vehicles and tactical gears will be displayed.
We greatly value the shared spirit of friendship and cooperation that is evident every day in Iwakuni. It is our pleasure to open our gates to the Japanese community to further our cultural connection and showcase the strength of the U.S.-Japan Alliance present all year long aboard MCAS Iwakuni.
We look forward to seeing you at the JMSDF/MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day.