US Marines' Iwakuni base in Japan draws 130,000 visitors to annual Friendship Day
IWAKUNI, Yamaguchi -- Aerial acrobatics and ground attractions drew some 130,000 people, according to organizers, to the annual Friendship Day festival at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni here May 4.
The event featured popular aerial demonstrations including a show by the White Arrows, a team of instructor pilots from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF)'s Ozuki Air Base in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
The air show also featured formation flights over the base by aircraft stationed at Iwakuni, such as the F-35C stealth fighter jet and the CMV-22 Osprey transport aircraft, deployed in 2024 as part of the U.S. Navy carrier-based aviation unit at the base.
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter assigned to Air Station Iwakuni demonstrated midair refueling with a KC-130 tanker aircraft. In addition, the event featured demonstration flights by a MSDF US-2 search-and-rescue amphibious aircraft and an EP-3 electronic warfare and data-gathering aircraft, both belonging to the MSDF's Fleet Air Wing 31, which shares the base with the Marines. Ground displays included a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force V-22 Osprey transport aircraft.
Speaking to reporters, base commander Col. Richard Rusnok said they were able to showcase the cooperative relationship between Japan and the United States.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asahi Shimbun
26-05-2025
- Asahi Shimbun
Landing practice of U.S. aircraft opened to public after 6 years
The U.S. military in Japan opened the training of its carrier-based aircraft to the public for the first time in six years on May 25 on Iwoto island in Tokyo's Ogasawara village. During the field carrier landing practice (FCLP), pilots perform repetitive landings on a land runway strip that simulates the deck of an aircraft carrier. The roars of stealth fighter jets such as the F-35 Lightning II echoed across the island. The moment the aircraft touched the runway—after descending at high speed—it increased power, took off and ascended again. A roar that pierced the air vibrated reporters' eardrums even through earplugs and resonated throughout their bodies. The moment it landed, smoke rose from the aircraft's tires and a burning odor filled the air. The media filmed the scene several dozen meters away from the runway. Multiple aircraft passed in front of reporters in succession at intervals of about a minute. A U.S. military official explained that the black stains on the reporters' arms and faces were 'spray' from the tires. The landing practice is conducted every May, before U.S. aircraft carriers deployed to U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka in Kanagawa Prefecture depart from the port. This year, the FCLP started May 19 and is scheduled to end on May 31. This was the first time the landing exercise has been open to the media in six years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, the Japanese government decided to relocate the FCLP site to Mageshima, an uninhabited island near Tanegashima island in Kagoshima Prefecture, at the request of the United States. Construction of a Self-Defense Forces base, including a runway, is under way on Mageshima island. Iwoto island, also known as Iwojima, was the site of a fierce battle near the end of the Pacific War. The island is 1,400 kilometers from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, where the carrier-based aircraft unit is based. On Iwoto island, a joint Japan-U.S. memorial service was held in March to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and defense ministers from both nations attended the ceremony. In April, the emperor and empress also visited the island to mourn the war dead there. Currently, the remains of more than 10,000 people that cannot be accommodated remain buried under the runway and at other sites on the island.
The Mainichi
17-05-2025
- The Mainichi
Editorial: Crash of SDF trainer jet in Japan highlights need to probe frequent accidents
A Japan Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) T-4 training aircraft recently crashed into a large reservoir in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, about two minutes after taking off from the prefectural Nagoya Airport. It is imperative to investigate the cause of the accident and thoroughly implement measures to prevent a recurrence. After climbing to an altitude of about 1,400 meters, the plane suddenly descended while making a right turn, suggesting the possibility of an abrupt malfunction. There was no sign that the two crew members ejected. There are residential areas and tourist facilities in the vicinity of the crash site, and there could have been a major disaster involving residents. The Ministry of Defense has a responsibility to thoroughly investigate whether any mechanical failures or pilot errors occurred. T-4 planes are mainly used for ASDF pilot training and aerobatic flights. The May 14 flight was not for training, but an operational mission by two experienced pilots. The aircraft involved in the accident was relatively old, having been manufactured in 1989, and did not have a flight recorder, a key piece of equipment to determine the cause of aviation accidents. Out of approximately 200 T-4 aircraft owned by the Ministry of Defense, about 60 are not equipped with recorders. The devices should swiftly be installed in all aircraft. In recent years, the Self-Defense Forces have seen a series of aircraft accidents. In 2022, an ASDF F-15 fighter jet went down off the coast of Ishikawa Prefecture, resulting in two deaths. Then in 2023, a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter crashed off the coast of Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture, killing 10 people. The following year, two Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopters collided and crashed off the Izu Islands, resulting in eight fatalities It is necessary to determine whether there are any common issues behind these frequent accidents As Japan's birth rate declines, the Self-Defense Forces face a serious personnel shortage. Meanwhile, the security environment in East Asia is becoming increasingly severe, leading to more missions such as surveillance and monitoring. It has been pointed out that such circumstances are leading to increased burdens on personnel and insufficient training. The Japanese government plans to increase defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product by fiscal 2027. However, if emphasis is placed on expanding equipment while efforts to protect the lives of personnel are treated as secondary, it would defeat the purpose. Unless the Self-Defense Forces do their utmost to prevent recurrences and work to alleviate public concerns, trust in the forces could be shaken.
Kyodo News
14-05-2025
- Kyodo News
Bag with inflammable tube falls from U.S. forces chopper in Okinawa
KYODO NEWS - 7 hours ago - 18:52 | All, Japan A bag containing an inflammable signal flame tube fell from a U.S. military helicopter over the Motobu peninsula in northern Okinawa Prefecture in Japan on Tuesday, the local Defense Ministry bureau said. In Tokyo, Japan's top government spokesman said Wednesday that no damage has been reported following the incident. An official of the U.S. Marine Corps, which is searching for the 18-kilogram bag, told Kyodo News that the UH-1 helicopter dropped it inadvertently during a routine drill and that there were no civilians confirmed in the area where it landed. The crew of the aircraft belonging to the Marines' Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa, reported the incident at around 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Marine Corps. The Marines are conducting a thorough examination of the incident while prioritizing the safety of local residents, the official said. "We urged the U.S. side to take thorough steps to ensure a similar problem will not occur again," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press conference. Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki expressed regret that the incident caused "great concern" to locals, describing it as one that "could have turned into a catastrophe affecting residents." The Japanese ministry's Okinawa Defense Bureau is calling on residents to contact it if the bag is found. The southern island prefecture is home to the bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan.
