but I know almost everything you would need to know about trains in Japan from JR to private railways and the names of the types of trains if no one else is going to know this stuff My love for trains began when I was very little and living in Maryland I used to be very interested in fans… office fans I still have a little chair with a fan painted on it I was somewhat interested in trains when I was given some wooden train toys What really cemented my love of trains was when I went on my first train ride which was a short excursion run in Southern California which I remember being a Burlington Northern Locomotive which now I believe were a cooling mechanism for the diesel engine I soon was reading train books and watching train videos so I took it upon myself to learn about the trains of Japan it can be frustrating being a fan of trains you don’t see them all the time I saw the occasional BNSF and Union Pacific-operated freight trains Every now and then I would see an excursion train such as Thomas the Tank Engine and the Fillmore and Western Christmas Tree Train where trains are a common sight and a key to the country’s public transportation system But what I was really excited to do after watching videos commonly referred to as the “bullet train.” When we moved to Japan and I got to experience trains firsthand I kept begging my parents to take the Shinkansen I got my first books on Japanese trains and somehow managed to learn the names of the trains I did a thing I called “train reports,” where I would stand in front of a train and talk about it while my dad or mom filmed me after I got a GoPro so I could railfan and film trains I have a decent knowledge of worldwide trains My Japanese train knowledge includes all trains that operate within the Iwakuni area (I can also identify these trains by sound alone as well as most of the trains in Tokyo and Kyushu My American train knowledge is primarily West Coast Steam Locomotives most of the Northeast corridor trains (Amtrak a few West Coast Commuter and long-distance trains and a couple BNSF and Union Pacific Locomotives My European knowledge of trains is the high-speed rail systems in Spain The only one I have ridden is the German ICE High Speed rail system I also have ridden the KTX trains in Korea during a recent trip to Korea so a lot of Korean trains and stations are fresh in my mind Here are some of my top train-related favorites: Top 5 Favorite Railway Museums/Places in Japan 5.JR Kyushu 783 Series “Midorii Express” (Sasebo to Hakata) this particular ride sticks with me the most you could feel every little groove in the track and the train rocked back and forth in a rough This was most likely because it was quite the old type of train with the first 783 series being commissioned in 1988 I was seated at the front of the train with my dad and my brother but when you have a big window in front of you What also made it so impressive was that it was on 1,067mm Japanese narrow-gauge track which typically does not allow for high speed The rest of the world uses 1,435mm standard gauge track for higher speed rail the Shinkansen actually uses standard gauge track The train seats themselves provided comfort but it was difficult to stay seated with such great views and the astronomical-seeming speed This made it such a surreal experience and I would highly recommend it for people that live in Sasebo who want to take a day trip to Hakata The seating layout is a 2+2 layout in Economy the best seats also are at the slanted end of the train 4.JR Shikoku 2000 Series (Okayama-Kochi) Limited Express Nanpu the company on the other side of the Seto Bridge which sadly no longer operates on this route and I can only assume the Green Cars are even nicer The whole train seemed to have been designed with a futuristic silver look and the doors stick out quite a bit with their high windows and solid blue color and while I was not sitting in the front of the train the view can only be believed to be magnificent The line even runs an Anpanman version since Shikoku is the home of the children’s animated series I did luckily get to ride this variant of the 2000 Series on the way home from Kochi The 2000 Series can now be found in JR Shikoku Service with the Ashizuri and Uwakai Services as well as in service with the Tosa Kuroshio Railway 3.Hanshin 8000 Series Limited Express (Osaka Umeda-Koshien) This one is a little more obscure than others on this list but nevertheless it is still one of my favorite train rides I have been on in Japan my family and I were going to a baseball game in Osaka and because the team was owned by the Hanshin Company I had never ridden the Hanshin Line before After making our way from Osaka Castle to the Osaka-Umeda Station we hopped on the “Limited Express” heading towards Himeji as well as see the conductor making announcements was because it was so fun to pass the station right up to the platform It was a pleasant change from the constant “local” service trains that stopped at every station I feel there will always be a vibe to passing stations so fast and so close to the platform If I didn’t have to get off at Koshien Station I most likely would have stayed on that train until it reached Himeji because it was just so awesome 2.JR East Tohoku Shinkansen E5 “Hayabusa” +E6 “Komachi” (Tokyo-Hachinohe and Back) The Tohoku Shinkansen is the fastest bullet train line in Japan The trains that run on this line are the long-nosed E5 series shinkansen nicknamed “Hayabusa,” runs from Aomori to Tokyo with a coupled E6 Akita Shinkansen the Akita Shinkansen disconnects and the rest of the Hayabusa continues its journey to the big city with reclining tan seats and joyful jingles and the Coveted Gran Class consists of the 1+2 Layout The seats on the coupled Komachi are similar at Hachinohe Station you can connect to local train services we changed trains at Morioka to the Komachi service after watching the two trains couple 1.JR West Tokaido Shinkansen N700A “Nozomi” (Hiroshima to Tokyo and back) was a ride on the JR West N700A Series Shinkansen from JR Hiroshima Station to Tokyo Station which was followed by my second-favorite train on the trip the N700A is one of the most recognizable Shinkansen trains apart from Dr The seats are incredibly comfortable and can be turned The route takes you through some of the most iconic cities in Japan The Tilting of the train coupled with the silence creates a great vibe The seating is in an airline style 3+2 layout in Economy Though some might find my knowledge of trains and interest in them childish Some even ask if I watch Thomas the Train (the answer is no speeds and color and have proven themselves time and time again to just be better and more efficient than any other form of transportation Sign up for our weekly newsletter of articles from Japan Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version This work, U.S.-based F-35s replace Hornets in rotational deployments to Japan, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright 2024F-35C Lightning IIs are set to forward-deploy to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Soto/Navy)The Navy is forward-deploying F-35C Lightning II and CMV-22B Osprey aircraft to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to maintain security efforts in the Indo-Pacific region Strike Fighter Squadron 147 and its F-35C Lightning II aircraft are slated to replace the F/A-18 Super Hornets from Strike Fighter Squadron 115 which belong to Fleet Logistic Multi-Mission Squadron 30 will replace the C-2A Greyhound aircraft of the Fleet Logistics Squadron 30 detachment that has supported Carrier Air Wing 5 embarked on the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan The carrier Reagan is expected to return to the U.S later this year for scheduled maintenance after spending nearly a decade forward-deployed to Japan The carrier George Washington has been tapped to take its place as America’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier in Yokosuka The Washington previously made its rounds as a forward-deployed carrier in the region from 2008 to 2015 Carrier Air Wing 5 will join the Washington once it arrives in Japan “The United States values Japan’s contributions to the peace security and stability of the Indo-Pacific and its long-term commitment and hospitality in hosting U.S forces forward deployed there,” Navy officials said in a release along with their counterparts in the Japan Self-Defense Forces make up the core capabilities needed by the alliance to meet our common strategic objectives.” The aircraft deployments come as Ospreys continue to face scrutiny in the wake of fatal mishaps. An Air Force Osprey crashed off the southern coast of Japan last November The crash was determined to be caused by cracks in a metal gear and the pilot’s decision to keep flying instead of heeding multiple warnings that he should land according to an Air Force investigation released Thursday Osprey fleets across all services were grounded for three months as a result. Naval Air Systems Command gave the green light to return the aircraft to limited flight operations in March. Restrictions are currently in place that bar the aircraft from conducting some of the Osprey’s core missions The Osprey’s joint program office within the Pentagon has said those restrictions are likely to remain in place until mid-2025 More than 50 troops have died in Osprey mishaps since the aircraft was introduced, Military Times reported in 2023 three Massachusetts lawmakers called for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to ground Ospreys until the Air Force is able to figure out key causes of the mishaps The Associated Press contributed to this report Riley Ceder is a reporter at Military Times He previously worked as an investigative practicum student at The Washington Post where he contributed to the Abused by the Badge investigation Japan — Some favorite fast-food brands have surfaced with the opening of a refurbished food court at this outpost of American culture near Hiroshima sailors and their families gathered Monday for Crossroads Food Court’s grand opening Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins will open later “The question I’ve been asked most of the last 2½ years in command is when is the food court going to open and we’re finally here today,” base commander Col The food court closed for renovations on July 1 Iwakuni Marine Corps Community Services spokesman Ronald Netemeyer said by email Monday “The renovations were needed to modernize the facility and provide new franchise options to MCAS Iwakuni,” he said “The renovation inside is phenomenal — 17,000 square feet brand new updated kitchen and brand-new equipment,” Master Gunnery Sgt “The staff has been working diligently across the board day and night for the last few weeks to make sure we’re ready for today.” Rusnok thanked the Army Corps of Engineers the Navy International Programs Office and the planners involved in the project but what you’re going to see when you go in there today is a modern facility that’s going to last us a long time,” he said Netemeyer said he had no further details available about the project “With the reopening of the Crossroads Food Court and the relocation of the concepts there will be additional new food concepts filling the vacant spaces,” he said Navy spouse Shanna Hatchcock arrived early for the grand opening ceremony excited to try out the new food options and get a taste of home “It’s going to bring a lot of joy to the community it’s going to be a hub of activity,” Rusnok said “It’s going to provide us that opportunity to get together and to build those relationships This work, METOC Marine of the Year, by Sgt Randall Whiteman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright That time when sweaters and boots are being pulled out and soup recipes are being researched “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” Not only because I love soup and sweaters but mostly because of my excitement for fall colors and oranges that pop up all over the place every year in November While Japan has so many beautiful spots to enjoy the fall colors there are some amazing places in and around Iwakuni These are some of my favorite fall foliage spots This has long been one of my favorite fall foliage spots I spend most of my lunch breaks walking around here just taking in the colors and this scenery Most people don’t even realize this gorgeous spot is in Iwakuni Momijidani Park is one place I highly recommend during fall This is also where one of the hiking paths up to the Iwakuni Castle begins It’s a nice little hike any time of the year Miyajima is beautiful any time of the year Momijidani Park on Miyajima is my favorite spot to head to in November but there are some other places that I love to visit for fall colors Be sure to walk all the way through the park and continue exploring around the back portion be sure to walk around the entire temple grounds Misen or taking the ropeway up is also very beautiful in the fall Mitaki Temple is one of Hiroshima City’s best kept secrets Hard to imagine this temple and the lovely grounds that surround it are just 15 minutes away from downtown Hiroshima (depending on traffic) There’s a little pagoda on the grounds with a few maple trees around it that I love there is a lovely spot on the left where you can enjoy a matcha and a sweet (for a fee) while looking at a garden with a waterfall I recommend visiting Mitaki Temple early in the morning The parking lot is not very big and it fills up very quickly I arrived a little after 0800 (on a weekday) and I got one of the last spots there were people waiting for a parking space to open up This is another spot that is really nice to visit just about any time of the year Buttsuji is also a temple that is nice to visit any time of the year I first visited this temple in December a couple of years ago and really enjoyed walking around the temple grounds I noticed all of the maple leaves on the ground I started thinking about how amazing this place must be in the fall and decided I needed to come back the following fall Looking at these photos is making me want to go again this year I visited Buttsuji on the 19th of November but a lot of leaves had already fallen off so I couldn’t help but wonder how it was the weekend prior to that every year it is a little bit different because it all depends on Mother Nature if you visit around the second and third week of November you will be able to enjoy the pretty colors Buttsuji has a few different parking areas but they do fill up pretty quickly and stay pretty full throughout the day We had to park at one of the lots that was further away but it was a very nice walk to the temple grounds from there so we didn’t mind at all There are so many beautiful spots to enjoy the autumn colors that are not too far from Iwakuni and I hope these places help you plan some fall adventures This work, 15th MEU CO Visits VMFA-225 Marines at MCAS Iwakuni [Image 7 of 7], by Cpl Joseph Helms, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright Japan – Reports of drone sightings at this base south of Hiroshima caused the airfield to temporarily halt military and civilian flights on Sunday evening The MCAS Iwakuni control tower notified an All Nippon Airways flight scheduled to land at 6:50 p.m Sunday at the Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport that drones were flying at the airport an official at the Iwakuni office of the West Japan Civil Aviation Bureau told Stars and Stripes by phone Monday The company contacted the Civil Aviation Bureau Commercial aircraft at the Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport share the runway with aircraft from the U.S Marines and Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force The ANA flight flew a holding pattern while waiting to land at the airport but once low on fuel it diverted to Hiroshima Airport the aviation bureau confirmed that the airport had reopened and the plane returned to Iwakuni at 9:41 p.m. The airport closure delayed the ANA aircraft’s 7:30 p.m return to Haneda Airport by more than two hours Public Broadcaster NHK reported Monday the delay affected about 250 passengers “Safety is a priority of MCAS Iwakuni and out of an abundance of caution the airfield was briefly closed on the evening of December 22 to investigate alleged drone sightings over the airfield,” base spokesman Maj Gerard Farao told Stars and Stripes by email on Monday “Upon determining that there was no threat to aviation safety Farao said he could provide no further details while the incident is under investigation “Unauthorized flights over MCAS Iwakuni are in violation of Japanese law,” he said An Iwakuni Police spokesman said Monday that police are investigating whether any drones were flying at the time Flying drones over restricted defense facilities in Japan may be punishable by imprisonment up to one year or a fine of up to $3,191 according to the National Police Agency website This is not the first report of a drone incident at a U.S In May the Navy investigated overhead photos and videos posted to social media platform X of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan docked at Yokosuka Naval Base Drone sightings have been on the rise in the U.S. with many reports last week in New Jersey causing concern among many residents Japanese police are holding a Marine in custody in Iwakuni city on allegations he stole a car drove drunk and crashed it before intruding into a man’s home last month assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni has been in city police custody since the incident Feb but was re-arrested Tuesday following further investigation a spokesman with the Iwakuni Police Station said by phone Wednesday Re-arresting a suspect allows Japanese police to reset a 20-day limit on custody Police forwarded their cases against the Marine to local prosecutors on Feb Stars and Stripes is choosing not to identify the Marine until charges are filed The Marine was first taken into custody at 12:26 a.m 11 on suspicion that he had intruded into the apartment of a 63-year-old man a spokesman with Yamaguchi Prefectural Police said by phone Wednesday Further investigation found that minutes earlier the Marine stole a car left running in a convenience store parking lot drove it an unspecified distance and crashed into a utility pole told police a “drunken foreigner” took her car “We are aware of the incident and are fully cooperating with local authorities who hold primary jurisdiction of this case in their investigation,” MCAS Iwakuni spokesman Maj Gerard Farao told Stars and Stripes by email Wednesday “We take all allegations of misconduct seriously.”  After the crash the Marine walked about 60 feet to an apartment building and entered an apartment through the front door He set off a fire extinguisher but did no further damage Police were responding to the crash when a “family member” ran from the apartment and reported the Marine had intruded Police arrested the Marine at the apartment door The Marine’s blood-alcohol content was above Japan’s legal limit of 0.03% but he declined to provide an exact number Some Japanese officials speak to the press only on condition of anonymity Stars and Stripes reporter Jonathan Snyder contributed to this report If you’re familiar with ski resorts on the East Coast in the United States then you will feel right at home on the slopes in the Chūgoku region of Japan with its abundance of easy and intermediate pistes and icy conditions While there are many resorts to choose from the closest and most accessible ski resort to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni is Megahira Ski Resort just over a 1½-hour drive depending on road conditions The resort has an impressive snow-making operation In early December the resort opens a 2,515-yard-long run from the top of the mountain to the bottom and a beginners and family slope area in early December The slopes were not crowded on opening weekend Dec and the wait for a chair lift was never more than a minute The roomy pistes are wide enough to navigate around skiers who lag in the center The snow conditions reminded me of my years snowboarding in Pennsylvania and New York Falling in these conditions is like hitting concrete With not very much snowfall since the resort opened the snow conditions on the mountain are still reported as hard compact and icy Megahira offers seven different courses to ski with a good balance of beginner and intermediate options and two advanced slopes There are four pair lifts and one quad lift the convenience and cost of the lift passes make it worth the day trip Ticket prices range from about $7 for a one-time run to about $27 for a child and $40 for an adult all-day lift ticket Outdoor Recreation on the Marine base offers trips to the resort The Single Marine Program has also scheduled trips to the resort for single Marines and sailors Outdoor Recreation also offers up to three days free for ski operates a ski bus that departs the Hiroshima Bus Station at the main train station Reservations must be made five days in advance A round-trip ticket with a lift pass costs $67 for an adult and $54 for a child a restaurant offers some wild boar and other Japanese dishes Bring yen; the restaurant uses the ticket vending machines for ordering The resort issues a plastic card as a lift pass for the chair lifts If you don’t want to keep it as a souvenir when you turn in the pass near the ticket window you can play a casino-style slot machine for a chance to win a prize You don’t always need a reason to visit Megahira The resort plans on bringing penguins to the resort Jan 18 and 19 and again Feb The office decided Monday to drop its case against the Marine assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Yamaguchi Prefectural Police identified the Marine as a 21-year-old corporal decide formal charges under Japan’s justice system military investigation and could face “disciplinary and administrative actions” depending on the outcome Joseph Butterfield wrote in an email Tuesday “The alleged behavior does not reflect the core values of the U.S nor does it represent the conduct of the overwhelming majority of Marines based in Japan,” he said Japanese police arrested the Marine on Feb 11 on suspicion of unlawful intrusion after he allegedly entered the apartment of a 63-year-old man Stars and Stripes is withholding the service member’s name because he has not been charged Police re-arrested him on March 4 on suspicion of stealing a car from a convenience store parking lot re-arresting a suspect resets the 20-day detention limit Iwakuni police on March 19 recommended additional charges of theft destruction of structure and drinking and driving the Marine walked about 60 feet to an apartment building and set off a fire extinguisher before police arrested him at the scene The Marine and his command “cooperated fully” with the Japanese investigation Some Japanese officials may speak to the press only on condition of anonymity A third Marine Corps squadron of F-35B Lightning II fighters arrived in Japan over the weekend marking the latest step in the service’s efforts to modernize its deployed forces in the Indo-Pacific The squadron — Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214 also known as the Black Sheep — arrived Friday from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma The deployment is the first rotational assignment for the F-35B under the Marines’ Unit Deployment Program which cycles units through the region to bolster readiness The aircraft will temporarily support flight operations at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni under Marine Aircraft Group 12 The group includes two permanently based Marine F-35B squadrons The Unit Deployment Program has historically been supported by fixed-wing aircraft groups operating F/A-18 Hornets and AV-8B Harriers The Black Sheep squadron transitioned to the F-35B in March 2022 and is now the first F-35 unit to deploy to the Indo-Pacific under the program “Our focus during this deployment is threefold,” Lt “To seamlessly integrate within Marine forces and regional allies and improve warfighting readiness as a combined force refine our ability to operate from austere locations and align with key Marine Corps concepts like Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations to maximize survivability and airpower projection.” Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations emphasize mobility The strategy has become central to Marine Corps planning as the Pentagon seeks to counter China’s growing military presence in the region “The F-35B’s ability to operate from austere locations and provide enhanced battlespace awareness makes it a force multiplier,” Col said the Marines would continue to expand their F-35B deployments “Munitions with greater capabilities will become available the platform’s support systems will strengthen and the F-35’s technology suite will continue to evolve,” he said in the release “As more F-35 squadrons deploy to the remote and contested environments of the Indo-Pacific and our capabilities as a combined force in this region will become even more lethal.” a senior researcher with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies said the F-35B is more survivable than the aircraft it is replacing and could serve as a deterrent “With more American stealth fighters in the region you can see the difficulties for a Chinese force assaulting Taiwan across the strait or trying to operate north and east of Taiwan,” he said by email Monday the aircraft’s reliance on established bases could pose challenges in a conflict of these bases are and just might hit them,” he wrote especially if they started taking losses.” The United States and its allies are working to address those concerns through a combination of airfield defense measures and dispersal to civilian airfields in Japan and the Philippines Because the F-35B is designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings it can also operate from amphibious assault ships and smaller airstrips Newsham noted that aerial refueling remains a challenge Home » U.S Navy Forward Deploys F-35C and CMV-22B to Japan Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 and Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30, Detachment Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) will forward deploy to Iwakuni, Japan. The squadrons will join the aircraft of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, which is forward-deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni The F-35C Lightning II aircraft of VFA 147 will replace the F/A-18 Hornets of VFA 115 while the CMV-22B Osprey aircraft of VRM 30 Det FDNF will replace the C-2A Greyhound aircraft of the Fleet Logistics Squadron (VRC) 30 detachment previously supporting CVW 5 and Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5 The F-35C is the most capable fighter in the U.S Navy and the backbone of air superiority; it complements the carrier strike group with a dominant The Navy’s V-22 variant includes increased operational range increased survivability and enhanced beyond-line-of-sight communications when compared to the legacy C-2A flexibility and sustainability to effectively operate our naval forces forward in a high-end fight The CMV-22B represents the next generation of the Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) mission and is the critical enabler to ensure sustained deployed mobility for the carrier strike group CVW 5 is currently embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) which is slated to return to the United States for scheduled maintenance this year after nearly nine years forward-deployed to Japan which is conducting routine operations in the Pacific Ocean will be replaced as America’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier in Yokosuka by USS George Washington (CVN 73) forward-deployed carrier air wing and will be embarked aboard George Washington upon its return to Japan later this year George Washington previously served as the Navy’s forward-deployed carrier in Yokosuka from 2008-2015 The forward presence of VFA 147 and VRM 30 supports the United States’ commitment to the defense of Japan and the security and stability of the vital Indo-Pacific region They will directly support the Defense Strategic Guidance to posture the most capable units forward in the Indo-Pacific region The United States values Japan’s contributions to the peace make up the core capabilities needed by the alliance to meet our common strategic objectives The security environment in the Indo-Pacific requires that the U.S Navy station the most capable ships and aircraft forward This posture enables rapid response times for maritime and joint forces and brings our most capable ships with the greatest amount of striking power and operational capability to bear Naval News brings you news coverage of the latest naval defense shows & events We are also reporting on naval technology from all over the world Japan — A Navy spouse determined to bring a towering skeleton from the United States to her home on this base south of Hiroshima reached a dead end in every possible way a 12-foot-high Halloween decoration sold for $299 at Home Depot is so popular it’s been written about in USA Today 70-pound limit on parcel size set by the U.S Asemoon Amirazodi worked for the past three months figuring out how to get Skelly to MCAS Iwakuni Shipping it via commercial carrier would cost more than four times the purchase price she told Stars and Stripes at her home on Monday I just fixated on getting the Skelly here.” Amirazodi explored other avenues — the Marine Corps Exchange United Service Organization or space-available flights — but none panned out and he sold out every year,” he told the paper Amirazodi knew her house in front of Matthew C Perry Elementary School was the right spot for such a large display “You definitely have the perfect location,” he told her by email late last month the giant skeleton arrived at Amirazodi’s front door shipped free of charge through DHL by Home Depot and the vendor who manufactures Skelly They also threw in Skelly’s 7-foot-long skeleton dog as a bonus “I’m so glad he made it,” Allen wrote in a follow-up email to Amirazodi but I figured the surprise would be worth it I can’t wait to see him up and how much the kids love him and the dog together I hope it’s an extremely memorable Halloween this year.” in an email to Stars and Stripes on Tuesday said Amirazodi had obviously tried everything to get a Skelly to Japan I knew we were probably her last chance for this season,” he said we have leveraged DHL for some large shipments in the past and we knew they’d be able to get it there,” he said Amirazodi went to work creating Navy-themed accessories for them: two giant Navy hats dog tags with the name “Skelly Bone O” and a dog collar with a tag labeled “Chew-Hi,” a take-off on the popular Japanese alcoholic beverage “I just love Halloween — just everything about him is so over the top and it’s so opposite of me because I’m so little,” she told Stars and Stripes children and their parents came by to see the display and pet Amirazodi’s two dogs The skeletons have been a huge hit in the community Marine spouse Gloria Mackinnon told Stars and Stripes at the display on Monday “My husband’s platoon came and took pictures this morning,” she said who plans to make use of the decorations for other holidays including arranging them for Christmas as the Grinch and his dog Max “It’s a pretty tight-knit community,” she said “Just seeing so many people stop and say hi or smile on their nightly walks or to say thank you Amirazodi has shared with Allen photos and video of people enjoying Skelly at Iwakuni “It’s been fun to see the joy and excitement our Halloween items can bring halfway around the globe,” Allen told Stars and Stripes “It’s great to be able to give back just a little as our services members and their families give so much.” A US soldier was arrested in the western Japanese city of Iwakuni for allegedly breaking into a local residence following a car accident while under the influence of alcohol a 21-year-old corporal stationed at the US Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni was detained by local police on suspicion of trespassing Tuesday night Authorities believe Ashton may have fled the scene of the crash to avoid being caught for drunk driving (2120GMT) when Ashton allegedly entered the home of a 63-year-old man a car had crashed into a utility pole near the scene and police received reports of a foreigner fleeing the accident site Ashton was located by police at the man’s residence and an alcohol test revealed he was over the legal limit stating he does not remember entering the home Japan hosts more than 55,000 active US soldiers across 15 bases under a bilateral security pact Several incidents involving US military personnel saying he was assured of the Osprey’s safety Navy plan to put tiltrotors at the neighboring Marine Corps base Iwakuni Mayor Yoshihiko Fukuda at a city meeting Wednesday accepted the Navy’s plan to replace aging C-2A Greyhound transports with CMV-22 Ospreys at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni a spokesperson for the city’s base affairs office told Stars and Stripes by phone Thursday Some Japanese government officials may speak to the press only on condition of anonymity The Navy in July said it will replace squadrons of Greyhounds and F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters at MCAS Iwakuni with Ospreys and F-35C Lightning II stealth fighters four CMV-22s assigned to Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron 30 will take over for Fleet Logistics Squadron 30 The Ospreys will move personnel and cargo to and from the aircraft carrier USS George Washington which is due to arrive at Yokosuka Naval Base “We were able to confirm that this aircraft model update will not significantly affect the living environment of the residents living around the base,” Fukuda said at the meeting according to video posted online by public broadcaster NHK Fukuda decided that the Osprey’s presence is necessary considering the security environment surrounding Japan The city concluded that noise won’t increase since fewer aircraft will be flying from the air station under the modernization plan Japan’s government informed Iwakuni officials last month of the plan to deploy the Ospreys The city government concluded the Ospreys are safe based on their accident record and assurances from the U.S according to a statement posted on the city’s website on Aug The Marines were first to resume Osprey flights followed by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force the tiltrotors are not permitted to fly their full range of missions until mid-2025 Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday that he was grateful to the mayor for accepting the deployment Tsugumasa Okamura also said he agreed with the plan on Thursday The Iwakuni mayor’s approval points to increased acceptance by the Japanese public of military deployments an international affairs expert at Temple University’s Japan campus “Japan’s increased military budget and enhanced cooperation with the United States and other security partners will require many more military drills and deployments of weaponry,” he said by email Wednesday be significantly held up if the Japanese public are not onboard.” flexibility and sustainability to effectively operate our naval forces forward in a high-end fight,” Navy Lt The Osprey squadron’s presence at MCAS Iwakuni will support America’s commitment to the defense of Japan and the security and stability of the vital Indo-Pacific region Japan — A group of nearly 20 Americans and Japanese teamed up here recently for a discovery expedition into the aisles of a Japanese supermarket said the trip to an off-base grocery story made her a savvier and more confident shopper “I have some food allergies and so trying to figure out how to navigate that is a bit more difficult when you can’t read the package labels,” Williamson said Sept “That’s probably relevant to a lot of people so it’s nice to be able to talk with somebody who can speak the language and help navigate that.” a private organization at this base south of Hiroshima arranges the trips to help military families navigate the challenges of shopping on the local economy because fresh produce and other unique ingredients are more readily available and affordable the society’s membership committee co-chair “SOFA [members] have a fantastic opportunity to team up with Japanese locals to learn about local products including trying delicious new foods,” she said during an interview Sept Off-base shopping can be intimidating for some Americans stationed in Japan “We’ve only lived here for a short time and I’m nervous to go off base because of the language barrier,” Marine spouse Haylee Clark said Sept With the yen valued at a record low this year some Americans are taking advantage of their purchasing power by shopping in local stores When Navy spouse Stephanie Drury arrived here in April but I didn’t know where to start,” she said Sept “I kept joking I’m going to buy flour but end up with sugar or something else instead.” Drury’s Japanese guides showed her their favorite tofu “I think I’m saving a lot of money every time I check out and I’m happy to see how little I spent,” she said bread and bananas at the MCAS Iwakuni commissary was 22% more expensive than the same items at Fuji Mart according to an informal survey Monday by Stars and Stripes Few food brands in the commissary overlap with items sold in local stores so Drury still shops for some items on base The guided shopping tour has been an annual event for more than a decade a friendship society membership committee co-chair “We noticed that a lot of SOFA members want more than just one time,” she said military families are primarily buying fresh produce in Japanese supermarkets they still shop at the commissary for familiar items and for convenience “I prefer to shop off base for produce,” Jasmine Herion spouse of a Department of Defense contractor The number of customer transactions at commissaries in Japan has remained steady from October 2022 through August Defense Commissary Agency spokesman Keith Desbois said by email Sept “DOD’s investment to DeCA’s operating budget allows commissaries to deliver a goal of 25 percent overall savings against local market baskets outside the gate if our patrons shop their commissary regularly,” he said Japan – American and Japanese middle and high school students gathered here for a weekend of cultural exchanges and entrepreneurial role-playing The first Student Educational Exchange and Dialogue program of the school year opened Saturday at Matthew C a part of the Department of Defense Education Activity It was the third time in the exchange program for Xochitl Seubert and we brought our ideas and creativity,” Seubert told Stars and Stripes on Sunday “And I like creating stuff and making art.” Seubert said she wished the program was a little longer “I would need to have more time with them because two days is not enough time,” she said “If I could change anything as far as this event goes would just be somehow to make it be a little bit longer where the kids get more kid interaction time just fun where they get to be kids,” Navarro told Stars and Stripes on Sunday 30 middle and high school students took part in hands-on activities designed to foster diverse perspectives promote mutual understanding and bridge language barriers “The activities are really fun,” Seubert said The students worked together Sunday in five groups to develop a product based on the local economy and culture and present it to everyone Richard Rusnok and Iwakuni city Mayor Yoshihiko Fukuda scoring the presentations One group pitched an idea for a magnet and bottle opener in the shape of the iconic Iwakuni castle Each group prepared a poster as part of their presentation Fukuda at the closing ceremony told the students that he found some of their specific recommendations quite insightful Rusnok told the students to think of on-base and off-base as one community and encouraged them to stay in touch to connect as American and Japanese citizens  “Working in diverse teams to achieve a common goal will also be an important life skill as you continue your academic pursuits and move into your future professions,” Rusnok said at the closing ceremony Other Department of Defense Education Activity schools in Japan are still coordinating with Japanese schools before announcing dates for the program deputy director of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Stars and Stripes at the event on Sunday Mazda announced the construction of a new production facility for battery modules and packs in the Japanese city of Iwakuni Panasonic's cylindrical cells are to be processed there The annual production capacity is designed for 10 GWh Mazda also invested further into battery production capacities alongside several other Japanese manufacturers This announcement now has revealed the planned format for the cylindrical lithium-ion battery cell packs as well as that Mazda will be employing the packs in a “dedicated EV platform,” and that the packs “will be manufactured at Mazda’s vehicle plant in Japan.” For its part, Panasonic has been gearing up the series production of its 4680 format cylindrical battery cells. Interestingly enough, the battery manufacturer also downgraded its plans for battery production in North America citing weaker demand mazda.com I agree with the Privacy policy electrive has been following the development of electric mobility with journalistic passion and expertise since 2013 we offer comprehensive coverage of the highest quality — as a central platform for the rapid development of this technology This work, The Pursuit of Excellence: How Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni’s Flight Line Mess Hall became one of the best mess halls in the Marine Corps, by Sgt Randall Whiteman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright Japan – For First Lieutenant James Detulleo service has never been just a duty—it’s a calling Growing up surrounded by military families he found inspiration in their unwavering dedication and values These early influences instilled in him a belief that service to others is greater than serving oneself it’s about contributing to a greater cause—a principle that has guided his journey in the Marine Corps “Growing up near MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa my neighborhood was full of military families,” Detulleo recalled one in particular—a Marine family down the street—left the most profound impression on him “I was drawn to the Marine family right away,” Detulleo explained “It wasn’t just playing with their kids,” Detulleo said “I spent countless hours listening to their parents’ stories about the Marine Corps Their sense of purpose and the way they carried themselves left a lasting impression on me That dedication to something bigger than themselves stayed with me.” Hearing the Marine family’s experiences of sacrifice and selflessness left an indelible mark on him “I idolized them growing up,” said Detulleo “And their beliefs shaped the path I would eventually follow.” After moving to Illinois and completing high school Detulleo pursued a history degree at the University of Illinois he joined the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) taking his first formal step toward becoming a Marine officer “NROTC was the perfect blend for me,” Detulleo said “It allowed me to experience military life while still enjoying a regular college experience it reinforced my belief that leadership means serving others and putting their needs above your own.” Detulleo commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in the form of rifle platoon commander instruction This rigorous program tested his resilience and adaptability teaching him to lead Marines under various conditions he trained as a Financial Management Officer at Camp Johnson in North Carolina before arriving at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in 2022 Detulleo’s primary responsibilities revolved around managing finances He began his duties as a Travel Officer and later became the Accounting Officer-in-Charge his interactions with Marines outside the office had the greatest impact on him but the moments I’ll always remember are those I spent in the field with Marines across the air station,” he said “Whether it was serving as the Security Augmentation Force Commander or organizing community events like Friendship Day interacting with the Marines reminded me why I joined These moments gave me a sense of purpose and reaffirmed my commitment to service.” Detulleo eagerly embraced leadership opportunities that allowed him to collaborate with Marines from various units he contributed to fostering readiness and strengthening teamwork around the air station “Leading those exercises gave me a clearer perspective on the bigger picture,” he said “They underscored how essential teamwork and cohesion are to mission success.” Detulleo demonstrated adaptability and resilience Whether coordinating large-scale events or guiding training exercises he consistently overcame challenges while ensuring mission success He credits much of his growth to the mentorship he received from senior Marines “The staff non-commissioned officers and senior leaders I worked with taught me invaluable lessons,” Detulleo said “They showed me what it means to lead—how to prioritize the well-being and development of the Marines under your care That’s a lesson I’ll carry with me for the rest of my career.” Detulleo took the next step in his journey by applying to become an Influence Officer—a role designed to integrate operations within the information environment enabling commanders to shape both the informational and security environment in their areas of responsibility “The Influence Officer role focuses on people,” Detulleo explained “It’s about understanding what drives others that’s the essence of service—helping others succeed and working together toward something greater than yourself.” requiring endorsements from commanding officers and detailed performance evaluations He is set to begin Influence Officer training at the end of January 2025 “The process was challenging,” he reflected “But it reminded me to persevere and stay true to my core beliefs.” and leadership that have shaped his journey he sees the next chapter as an opportunity to continue growing and making a meaningful impact “The Marine Corps has reinforced my belief that service to others is bigger than service to yourself,” Detulleo said Home » USS George Washington’s Carrier Air Wing Returns to Japan with New Additions: F-35C and CMV-22B CVW-5 was first deployed to Japan in 1973 alongside the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV 41) and has contributed to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region for over 50 years CVW-5 departed Japan together with the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) which had been forward-deployed to Japan since 2015 The wing conducted a “hull swap” with USS George Washington (CVN 73) transferring equipment and personnel in San Diego CVW-5 returned to Japan as the air wing assigned to USS George Washington now equipped with three new aircraft types The first is the state-of-the-art stealth fighter The F-35C is the carrier-based variant of the fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter and reinforced landing gear to enable carrier operations and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) fields the F-35A Japan becomes the only country outside the United States where all three variants of the F-35 are deployed This tiltrotor aircraft serves as the successor to the long-serving C-2A Greyhound tasked with transporting supplies and personnel between carriers and land-based facilities the CMV-22B is equipped with massive fuel tanks housed in sponsons on its sides While CVW-5 previously operated E-2D aircraft during its time assigned to USS Ronald Reagan the newly deployed models are equipped with air-to-air refueling probes This upgrade allows the E-2D to undertake longer missions compared to the previous version “Carrier Air Wing 5 represents the Navy’s determined investments in Naval Aviation through cutting-edge technology and our most advanced training with years of unmatched experience flying in this consequential theater Our forward-deployed forces in Japan are among our most capable in the world and represent a tangible sign of America’s commitment to Japan and the region.” Rear Adm commander of Task Force 70 and the George Washington Carrier Strike Group The squadrons of CVW-5 and their respective aircraft are as follows: ・Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102 “Diamondbacks” Aircraft: F/A-18F Super Hornet (two-seat variant) ・Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 “Royal Maces” Aircraft: F/A-18E Super Hornet (single-seat variant) Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115 “Eagles” ・Aircraft: F-35C Lightning II (carrier-based stealth fighter) Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195 “Dambusters” ・Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 “Shadowhawks” Aircraft: EA-18G Growler (electronic warfare aircraft based on the F/A-18F) ・Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125 “Tigertails” Aircraft: E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (airborne early warning and control aircraft) ・Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30 “Titans”  Detachment Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) Aircraft: CMV-22B Osprey (carrier onboard delivery and transport aircraft) ・Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77 “Saberhawks” Aircraft: MH-60R Seahawk (multi-mission maritime helicopter) ・Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12 “Golden Falcons” Aircraft: MH-60S Seahawk (multi-mission helicopter for logistics Suo-Oshima is known as “Hawaii of Setouchi” thanks to its beautiful landscape there are many attractions including shops and restaurants keeping the Hawaiian-style vibe the island carries out a unique “Aloha Biz” campaign that allows staffers of town hall post offices and hotels to wear Hawaiian shirts as official attire you can catch hula dancing performances at various spots around the island as part of their “Saturday Hula” promotion why does the island of a short 60-minute drive from MCAS Iwakuni have an Aloha State vibe Visit the Museum of Japanese Emigration to Hawaii for some insight into this interesting history the museum was founded in 1999 to tell the story of Suo Oshima locals who migrated to Hawaii around 130 years ago The exhibits in the museum explore the migrants’ stories and documents the evolution of Suo-Oshima after their children and grandchildren returned the islander’s life in the 19th century was very harsh they applied for the Japanese government’s recruitment for emigration to overseas countries (1885 – 1894) and emigrated to Hawaii looking for a better life,” said museum curator Eiko Kawano most of the Japanese immigrants worked in sugar cane and pineapple plantations They kept sending money to their families back home which then contributed to the building of schools and shrines throughout the years Descendants of these original Japanese residents have since returned and with them brought Hawaiian culture and customs Suo-Oshima even signed a sister contract with Kauai Island in 1963 marking the strong connection and friendship they keep to this day a lot of Japanese Hawaiians have visited the museum in quest of their origin With a database and the documents furnished in the museum you can look into records of 130,000 Japanese who emigrated to Hawaii from 1885 to 1908 The unique museum is a short 60-minute drive from MCAS Iwakuni via 3,346-foot-long Oshima Ohashi Bridge The island and its history make for a great day trip to get a taste of Hawaiian culture without leaving Japan Admission: 400 yen; elementary/middle schoolers 200 yen Japan — The Navy said Monday it is replacing squadrons of F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters and C-2A Greyhound transports with next-generation stealth fighters and tiltrotors at this base south of Hiroshima The F-35C Lightning IIs of Strike Fighter Squadron 147 will replace the F/A-18s of Strike Fighter Squadron 115 CMV-22B Ospreys with Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron 30 will swap out with the Greyhounds of Fleet Logistics Squadron 30 The upgrades in Navy fighter and transport aircraft based in Japan follow a similar move announced July 4 by the Air Force to permanently base 36 F-15EX Eagles at Kadena Air Base and 48 F-35A Lightning II fighters at Misawa Air Base in the north Those aircraft replace older model F-15s at Kadena and F-16s at Misawa The two Navy squadrons will join Carrier Air Wing 5 The Navy did not lay out a timeline for the aircraft’s arrival in Japan The air wing is attached to Carrier Strike Group 5 which will embark aboard the carrier USS George Washington when it arrives at Yokosuka Naval Base The Ronald Reagan is returning to Bremerton The Greyhounds shuttle personnel and cargo from ship to shore but were scheduled for replacement by the Osprey aerial refueling capability and other improvements The crash in November of an Air Force Osprey in southern Japan delayed that move and stretched the 15 remaining Navy Greyhound’s service several more months are not permitted to fly their full range of missions until mid-2025 Strike Fighter Squadron 115 and its F/A-18s arrived at MCAS Iwakuni in November 2017 when the carrier air wing relocated from Naval Air Facility Atsugi The Marine Corps has two squadrons of F-35Bs vertical-landing version of the stealth fighter based at MCAS Iwakuni and the Navy has another two squadrons of Super Hornets there with the carrier wing The F-35C variant is the Navy’s first long-range stealth fighter built to operate from an aircraft carrier “The F-35C is the most capable fighter in the U.S power projection and deterrence,” the Navy release states DODEA schools at Sasebo and Iwakuni will remain closed through the weekend and Tuesday for a training date All DODEA-Japan high school sports activities Joint Typhoon Warning Center’s latest forecast track projects Shanshan to weaken to tropical-depression status as it moves across Shikoku into Japan’s central Kansai area over the next two days this should be Storm Tracker’s final update on Shanshan Navy and Marine Corps bases in the path of a punishing typhoon tracking across southern Japan secured ships and planes and stocked up on peanut butter Thursday Typhoon Shanshan passed south of Sasebo Naval Base as it stormed across Kyushu the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center at Pearl Harbor Shanshan at its strongest packed maximum sustained winds of nearly 90 mph with gusts over 100 mph Thursday had weakened to a Category 1-equivalent storm about twice as fast as the average person walks Thanks to two weak weather systems steering the typhoon according to the center’s update at noon Thursday “The system has the potential to move erratically during a quasi-stationary period with possible loops and backtracking,” the update stated Nearly 20 inches of rain fell on Kyushu between Wednesday and Thursday That triggered a landslide that killed one person and injured several others At Sasebo — homeport of the America Amphibious Ready Group about 30 miles north of Nagasaki — all nonessential operations shut down as of noon and all ships were secured in the harbor Sasebo is known to be a very safe harbor protected from storm effects and so we are hoping that this is the case this time around,” spokesman Aki Nichols told Stars and Stripes by phone Thursday “But we are taking all the precautions we normal do.” Ships were secured by doubling and tripling storm lines and positioning them in the safest locations on berth assignments 22 miles southwest of Hiroshima and next in the storm’s path moved into Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness 2 on Thursday afternoon meaning it expected winds of 57 mph or higher within 24 hours peanut butter and jelly ahead of the storm and then I saw more people posting it’s going to be one of the biggest ones,” she said The commissary was well stocked with milk and eggs but the shelf for sandwich bread was empty “I got yen out to go out to the Japanese grocery stores just in case they didn’t have stuff here,” Kovalevich said Shanshan is expected to pass 62 miles south-southeast of Iwakuni around 4 p.m still packing 46 mph sustained winds and 58 mph gusts at its center according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center MCAS Iwakuni is closely monitoring Shanshan’s progress Justin Weinstein told Stars and Stripes by email Thursday “The air station is taking standard typhoon precautions in securing aircraft and equipment and adjusting the schedules of on-base services,” he said preparedness measures and shelter locations on and off base are available via internal communications and the MCAS Iwakuni social media channels The base on its official Facebook page Wednesday advised residents on- and off-base to secure outside items and encouraged anyone living in flood-prone areas to use the on-base evacuation shelter Dozens of domestic flights connecting southwestern cities and islands will be canceled through Friday Japan Railway suspended bullet trains and local train services Thursday on Kyushu Similar steps may be taken on the main island of Honshu through Sunday Stars and Stripes reporter Dave Ornauer contributed to this report Grab your eco-bags and head to Shunan City for a day at the flea market on Oct This biannual market draws a big crowd and this particular event assembles under the theme of “Yorimichi no Aki” or Make a Detour amid Autumn food and entertainment that remind you of the arrival of autumn at the JR Tokuyama Station square and along Tokuyama Shotengai shopping mall The Shunan Flea Market promises plenty of antiques baked goods and other good eats at the event in Shunan City “While this biannual event near Iwakuni has expanded each time more than 100 vendors from not only in Yamaguchi Prefecture but from other cities and towns throughout Japan are also participating so I’m looking forward to enjoying more variations in goods and food during the event,” says Tomoyuki Arao of Stars and Stripes Iwakuni Office Kick off the autumn season with a fun time at the Shunan Flea Market Tokuyama Ekimae (Shunan) Flea Market Autumn 2024 Location: Tokuyama Shotengai and JR Tokuyama Station North Exit Square (a one-hour drive from MCAS Iwakuni) Japan — The flagship stealth fighter at this base south of Hiroshima is sporting a new look The F-35B Lightning II assigned to the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 appeared over the base June 11 with outgoing commander Lt Alexander Mellman on his final flight and the end of his 20-year career It bore the noteworthy insignia of the squadron’s namesake mascot “This paint scheme emphasizes the agility and stealth of the F-35B,” Col also known as “The Bats,” unveiled the newly painted F-35B aircraft to showcase the new squadron logo Vitaliy Rusavskiy told Stars and Stripes by email Wednesday “The Bats have a proud heritage in Marine Corps aviation and continue that legacy as one of two permanently forward-based F-35B squadrons in the Indo-Pacific,” Shoop said Photos of the F-35 with the bat insignia taken by a tail spotter circulated on social media “It’s good to see fighter aircraft getting art again,” Larry Oliver commented on a Facebook post June 22 “I’ve thought the F-35 has always been ugly Turns out all it needed was a bad ass paint job,” Mitchell Adams commented on Facebook on June 23 Several comments aired concerns with the paint job impeding the aircraft’s stealth characteristics “The stealth fighter was painted in accordance with service regulations and the new paint does not affect operational capability of the aircraft,” Rusavskiy said Asked if the new insignia is a temporary or permanent addition Ten municipalities in western Japan are joining forces to protest low-altitude flights by U.S military aircraft after recording a record high in noise measurements last year Aircraft from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni are “causing anxiety to the locals” by flying at low altitudes a spokesman for Shimane prefecture’s Disaster Prevention and Crisis Management Division said by phone Tuesday Masuda and Gotsu and the towns of Ohnan and Kawamoto in Shimane prefecture have agreed to work alongside the cities of Hatsukaichi as well as the towns of Akiota and Kitahiroshima in Hiroshima prefecture Each prefecture has formed a Council for Countermeasures against U.S which will coordinate an annual request for reduced low-altitude training flights the Hamada spokesman said by phone Tuesday The first joint request is expected to be submitted later this year to Japan’s Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs Some Japanese government officials may speak to the media only on condition of anonymity MCAS Iwakuni did not immediately respond to questions emailed by Stars and Stripes on Tuesday Hamada city Mayor Shoichi Kubota met with Hatsukaichi city Mayor Taro Matsumoto to discuss a joint response “We also saw some reports saying that the U.S military aircraft was conducting aerial refueling training over our city Shimane prefecture recorded 2,090 instances of aircraft noise above 70 decibels — comparable to city traffic or a vacuum cleaner — at 13 locations throughout the five municipalities in the western part of the prefecture The previous record was 2,076 instances in 2022 Shimane has seen a gradual increase in aircraft noise since 2020 coinciding with the March 2018 relocation of Carrier Air Wing 5 from Naval Air Facility Atsugi assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington the kind car enthusiasts install to let loose the sound of their engine exhaust are on the most wanted list at this base south of Hiroshima MCAS Iwakuni announced a crackdown on automobiles out of compliance with Japanese law on modified exhaust systems according to an email Friday from base spokesman Maj The base Provost Marshal’s Office is actively looking and listening for loud exhausts on base and plans gate inspections and traffic stops starting Aug according to a July 15 post on the installation’s Facebook page “If a vehicle is found to be non-compliant with regulations the driver will receive a Minor Offense Report,” Farao wrote in his email “They will then be required to remove any illegal modifications to their vehicle to be in compliance with Japanese laws.” Individual commands are encouraged to hold their own vehicle inspections before Aug “This is not a new base order or policy,” Farao said “The enforcement is to ensure that all Marines and civilians on MCAS Iwakuni are in compliance with applicable Japanese laws and ensure that we are good neighbors with the local community.” Farao did not answer when asked July 15 if the Provost Marshal’s Office will use a decibel meter to measure exhaust noise levels during its inspections Three Marines told Stars and Stripes via Facebook Messenger last week that they won’t comply with the base muffler order None wanted to be identified because they feared retaliation from their commands Owners of customized cars sometimes modify their exhaust to make the vehicles stand out; some do it to improve the car’s performance drivers who add an aftermarket muffler must have their vehicle re-inspected according to the requirements under the compulsory insurance law The vehicle must also pass a Japanese Proximity Noise Check test All vehicles in Japan must undergo inspection every two years a check that also looks for illegal modifications according to the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University website Iwakuni City Police receive complaints about loud vehicles including some bearing the Y license plates that distinguish owners affiliated with the U.S but they do not consider the problem a major issue a city police traffic supervisor said by phone Thursday A driver may be fined if police find the exhaust was illegally modified Stars and Stripes reporter Hana Kusumoto contributed to this report The mayor of a city in the western Japan prefecture of Yamaguchi said Tuesday he will accept the deployment of the U.S despite lingering safety concerns over the tilt-rotor transport aircraft military's stationing of the CMV-22s at the Iwakuni base will be their first deployment in Japan are deployed at the Futenma air station in Okinawa while CV-22s operate from the Yokota base in the western suburbs of Tokyo along with the state-of-the-art F-35C stealth fighter jets will serve as replacement aircraft for a U.S The changeover comes in line with the departure of the U.S Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan from Japan to be replaced by the George Washington carrier I accept the aircraft replacement," Iwakuni Mayor Yoshihiko Fukuda told a city assembly saying that the safety of the aircraft has been confirmed by both the Japanese government and the U.S Fukuda also said that the environment around U.S is unlikely to change substantially as the number of aircraft will be reduced by about 10 after the replacement Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told a press conference that he is grateful to the mayor for accepting the deployment The development came after the central government informed Iwakuni and Yamaguchi Prefecture in July of the U.S The consent of local governments is not a requirement for deployment capable of taking off and landing like a helicopter but also cruising like a plane have a track record of accidents and mishaps both in Japan and abroad Air Force CV-22 crashed into the sea near Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan killing all eight crew members in the deadliest incident involving an Osprey since it entered service in 2007 military grounded all of its Ospreys worldwide in December but lifted the flight ban in March before details regarding the cause of the accident had been released Japan's Self-Defense Forces also temporarily halted their Ospreys' operation Air Force concluded in its investigation report that the incident was caused by a gearbox failure and faulty decision-making in response to the malfunction during a routine exercise The Japanese government has explained to the Iwakuni city after the accident that Ospreys have no structural defect U.S. probe finds fatal Osprey crash in Japan due to gearbox failure U.S. Air Force resumes Osprey flights in Japan after Nov. fatal crash To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible A family’s name is one that connects each member of it to each other regardless of if they want to or not Names can also command reverence if one’s bloodline is highly respected and or did good deeds one’s name is partly what makes up one’s identity that doesn’t mean someone’s image is left up to chance – far from it People have the power to make a name for themselves in a different way at least this is what has been instilled in U.S With 22 years of service across the world in both the enlisted and officer ranks the station ordnance officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron has learned throughout his career that being successful and building a good reputation for yourself isn’t a solo endeavor it’s one that impacts and requires the efforts of all of those around you tell me once that you have three names: Your last name which is the name you make for yourself.” O’Brien said their history – such as hailing from Ireland or Czechoslovakia – and what they did in the past even if it’s a messed-up name your parents gave you what does it mean when someone comes to me and says I need this done.’ Am I going to get the job done right Do they already have that in their mind when they call for me Do they think that I’m the guy that can make things happen?” O’Brien started life in the Chicago metropolitan area in between the rural farmlands that comprise much of the Midwest and the controlled chaos of the big city he had learned that his family history had been intertwined with the military throughout recent history “I come from a very strong military family,” O’Brien said “My dad was in the Army got out as a sergeant and then went into the reserves My grandpa was in Berlin after World War II during the occupation after the war was over My other grandfather was a lieutenant commander and I think he eventually became a commander in the Navy My mom was in the Air Force for a couple of years as a corpsman What’s interesting is that my uncle was the only one in the Marine Corps Worries about uncontrollable job circumstances kept Capt O’Brien working as hard as he could to keep his job while at the same time leaving him wanting something more secure He mulled over the idea of going back to school after he finished high school he had a series of conversations with one of his carpentry co-workers who eventually convinced him to take a chance and go back to school Eight hours of me and him doing roofs from one house to another.” O’Brien said I need to go back to school.’ But then there is the question of ‘How do I pay for school though?’ I call my mom and tell her I want to go back to school.’ She laughed at me He remembered that joining the military would help immensely in paying for his schooling O’Brien was already talking to a recruiter By September 14th he had raised his right hand 9/11 happened and now we’re going to war.’ Nobody really knew what was happening.” O’Brien said “Everyone was gathering all this information and I never put the two together At the time I was doing it because I wanted a job that I can sustain and go to school I was a little naive about where they would send us.” He would make it roughly halfway through basic training before he would encounter tremendous adversity my dad passed away when I was in boot camp “I got to go home on emergency leave in the middle of boot camp To be in the middle of week two of rifle training and lose your dad and be just as motivated as before you left I’m not going to quit because something terrible happens in my life I’m going to set my mind forward and keep going.” O’Brien arrived at his first duty station at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in November of 2002 Things were relatively normal until March of 2003 when the war in the Middle East continued to ramp up that’s when everybody got kicked off the base just luck of the draw I guess.” O’Brien said All aircraft were gone except for around six of them The whole MAG [Marine Aircraft Group] deployed and here I am sitting at MALS [Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron] 13 O’Brien ended up deploying and supporting operation Phantom Fury from Al Asad Airbase in Iraq from July 2004 to November 2004 as a part of MALS-16 He would later return to Al-Asad on another deployment from February to September 2006 O’Brien went on to recruiting duty in Des Moines every day was a difficult day.” O’Brien said nothing’s better than seeing kids that you enlist become successful Marines and bumping into them a couple of years later Use the Marine Corps as a stepping-stone to get farther in life or use it to stay in and continue being successful The Marine Corps is a tool to be successful in life no matter what you do You learn from it and move on or stay in and keep going.” O’Brien was eventually inspired to commission as an officer Among his reasons was a desire to be more able to serve as a mentor to all his Marines Now as the station ordnance officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni O’Brien is responsible for all ordnance and other ammunition on MCAS Iwakuni “My team and I ensure that the ordnance that the squadrons want here is properly stored and issued to the correct squadrons that are required to have it for training investments – whatever that requirement is It’s everything from 9mm ammo for the pistol range all the way to air-to-ground missiles.” O’Brien has to be ready to answer any questions and all requests that come his way especially those from Marines and Sailors under him He believes that in order to get the most from his people he needs to address why the mission they are executing is important in the first place “The most important thing for me is explaining the ‘why’ to my Marines and Sailors.” O’Brien said when we shipped mortar rounds to Indonesia MEF [Marine Expeditionary Force] asked us to support an ordnance movement they knew we had a flightline and Sasebo didn’t so we set it up at Iwakuni and flew it out here I saw on marines.mil that Indonesian Marines and U.S Marines were training together doing 60mm mortars and something dawned on me That’s our movement.’ That’s the ‘why’ right there Why did we need to work longer hours that day I can just tell my Marines and Sailors ‘Hey let’s pack it up and let’s ship it’ and once it flies showing the Marines training with that ordnance and what would happen if that shipment didn’t happen in time is the message Could you imagine them trying to do the exercise without the mortars It’s like going to the rifle range without rounds.” In addition to the several unique experiences O’Brien has had throughout his career he is also in a very fortunate position to have much of his family on base a stark contrast to how he lived 20 years ago “I have a very unique family situation [here] so I got 75% of my immediate family together at the air station.” O’Brien said an aircraft maintenance data analyst with MALS-12 has also found the situation very beneficial as having a strong connection to family so close to him makes life much smoother “It really makes things a lot easier having someone close.” Brunson said you always hear that before you go on a deployment but for me it’s already in good hands because I know when I leave or grandpa is here to take care of it on base if something’s up That feeling that spouses or the family have of feeling alone they don’t necessarily have in our situation Brunson also says that even though O’Brien is an officer it carries no odd interactions between them “It helps that he’s been on both sides of the Marine Corps That carries with it a level of understanding that a lot of Marines don’t have.” O’Brien has mutual feelings about the situation especially looking back at how things used to be for him He feels that although he faced complications through his career in the past “The fun thing about us is we are lucky to have this opportunity to be with each other to be able to lean on each other when life is sucky – sometimes in all aspects.” O’Brien said “I’m very fortunate to not have too many adverse things happen in my life partly because of me and partly because I had great NCOs [non-commissioned officers] and great Staff NCOs that always looked after me I’ll tell you one thing: you show me Marines that have never been in trouble and I’ll show you a Staff NCO or NCO that took care of them.” It wasn’t what he originally envisioned as he was working odd jobs until his early twenties but having a lengthy career in the Marine Corps has certainly made a name for him and all of his hard work and care for others have now paid off for him “The best success I had in my career is with that guy standing next to me You’re successful as much as your team’s wrapped around you Keep Marines and Sailors around you successful too This work, 2023 Firefighter of the Year, by Cpl Dahkareo Pritchett, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright This work, U.S. Marines with MWSS-171 and MCAS Iwakuni H&HS Participate in an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Themed Workout at Suwon AB [Image 21 of 21], by Sgt Calah Thompson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright Often called “the Hawaii of Setouchi,” Suo-Oshima (aka Yashima Island) has an Hawaiian vibe to it white sand beaches with rows of palm trees the island has had strong ties with the 50th state ever since 4,000 residents left the island for Hawaii 130 years ago As children and grandchildren returned to Suo-Oshima they introduced Hawaiian culture and customs that have been there ever since Suo-Oshima signed a sister island contract with Kauai Island and the two have maintained a friendly relationship setting up student-exchange program hosting various cultural events among other things You will find palm trees planted here and there on the island along with many shops and restaurants with a Hawaiian-style façade post offices and hotels to wear an aloha shirt as official attire they offer “Saturday Hula” - live hula dancing at various restaurants and hotel facilities throughout the island the hula events are scheduled from July 13 to Aug 31 at four sites - Road Station Southern Seto Towa Greenstay Nagaura and Marissa Resort Sazanseto Suo-Oshima The Saturday Hula is divided into two stages: Day Stage (1 – 6 p.m.) at Road Station Southern Seto Towa and Ryuzaki Onsen and Night Stage (5-8 p.m.) at Greenstay Nagaura and Marissa Resort Sazantowa Suo-Oshima Hundreds of hula dancers from Japan and Hawaii perform (each show is 20 minutes) one after another at each day and night venue Visitors can enjoy the live hula dancing for free Oshima Ohashi bridge connects the island to the mainland so you can reach the island via a short 60-minute drive from MCAS Iwakuni Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Yamaguchi Prefecture—Despite ongoing concerns about safety and noise Iwakuni Mayor Yoshihiko Fukuda has approved plans to deploy the U.S Navy's Osprey transport aircraft and F-35C fighter jets to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Fukuda outlined three reasons behind his decision These include that the deployment is expected to minimally impact the living conditions of residents living near the base and it is important for national security a majority of municipal assembly members expressed support for it the previous week The planned deployment is part of a broader reorganization of the U.S aircraft carrier George Washington is scheduled to be deployed to Yokosuka The move comes with the modernization of carrier-based aircraft currently assigned to the Iwakuni base This includes the deployment of F-35C stealth fighter jets to replace some of the FA-18 fighter jets The CMV-22 Osprey will also replace C-2 transport planes Marine Corps' FA-18s will be switched out for F-35B stealth fighter jets The Iwakuni base will have slightly fewer aircraft once the reorganization is complete with the ministry saying that there are no grounds for concern about greater noise pollution around the facility Mayors of the neighboring towns of Suo-Oshima and Waki are expected to announce their positions soon followed by Yamaguchi Governor Tsugumasa Muraoka The Iwakuni base is expected to be the third facility in Japan to host the U.S The plan sparked trepidation among local residents due to the tilt-rotor aircraft's history of accidents The ministry stated that it has observed no safety issues with the Osprey Air Force Osprey crashed off the coast of Kagoshima Prefecture in November Ospreys headed for deployment at Iwakuni station Unloading of SDF’s 1st Osprey in Iwakuni met by small protest 1st Osprey arrives at SDF base in Chiba; still no word on future Jet deployment future focus at Kadena to reduce attack risk Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission it was recorded that 27 Marines and sailors lost their lives due to preventable off duty mishaps the aquatics director and swim survival skill master trainer is on a mission to help change these statistics for the better Finding ways to improve the service members’ confidence and proficiency in the water is a crucial part of the Naval service expectation Learning how to stay calm in instances of high stress and being confident in the water are crucial aspects of an amphibious fighting force started her aquatic journey at the age of nine the head coach for the College of Charleston’s swim team she was instructing her peers and many other members of her community “I’ve watched kids go from small children to members of our swim team to becoming coaches themselves,” said Ayers “but mentoring everyone and being able to find so much joy in it helped me find my ‘ikigai’.” In Japan there is a concept that describes when people search for their purpose or finding a hobby that brings them peace — that is their Ikigai This concept encourages people to discover what truly matters to them and live a life filled with purpose and joy I was in charge of four pools in the City of Charleston’s recreation department in four very different parts of town,” said Ayers “each of them of wildly different demographics.” While she had a great passion for instructing and being able to positively impact people’s lives Jennifer decided to broaden her horizons by considering opportunities in other places even considering opening her own swim academy so that she could continue to pursue her passion “I even considered becoming a traveling trainer for a professional swim organization,” said Ayers Jennifer was later approached by one of her colleagues who brought up the idea of moving to Japan and taking over the position of Aquatics Director for the Marine Corps Community Services in Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Little did she know that suggestion would affect her life forever Ayers always had a fascination with Japanese culture “I studied a lot about the culture and wanted to experience these things firsthand,” Ayers confessed she applied for the position and decided to come to Japan “I think that the years of aquatic experience I’ve gained throughout my life could be used for something greater,” said Ayers “even if it’s only helping a few people become more comfortable in the pool” But coming to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni would come with its own set of challenges that she would soon encounter Within her first month aboard the air station she observed three iterations of the Marine Corps Water Survival Training (MCWST) and knew there needed to be a change She was shocked to see the Marines’ lack of experience and decided that introducing swim clinics to assist service members would be her next mission specifically to help active-duty service members improve their swimming abilities Headquarters Marine Corps got word of what we were doing out here and were ecstatic to implement it as a core part in the organization’s training,” said Ayers Committed to her goal of improving the ‘survival’ portion of the MCWST program Ayers traveled from MCAS Iwakuni to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville North Carolina to discuss the development and implementation of the Swim Survival Skills Training (S3T) in addition to gaining her master trainer certification S3T is a progressive swimming skill course designed to increase Marines’ familiarity with the water and reduce accidental drownings the greatest satisfaction is to share the knowledge and experience that I’ve gained with service members and their families,” said Ayers National Report Yamaguchi Prefecture–The government has announced that the U.S military will deploy CMV-22 Osprey transport aircraft to its base here by the end of the year Parliamentary Vice-Defense Minister Hisashi Matsumoto visited Iwakuni Mayor Yoshihiko Fukuda and Yamaguchi Governor Tsugumasa Muraoka at their offices on July 15 to deliver the notification The Ospreys will replace C-2 transport planes currently stationed at U.S The effort is part of a larger update and reorganization of the U.S including the replacement of the aircraft carrier currently assigned in Yokosuka F-35C stealth fighter jets will also be deployed at the Iwakuni base The number of CMV-22 Osprey and F-35C to be deployed remains undisclosed The deployment of Ospreys has raised concerns among local residents due to the tilt-rotor transport aircraft's history of accidents All Osprey flights were grounded worldwide following the crash but they were reinstated in March without the cause of the accident being fully disclosed Fukuda gave a cautiously vague response to the announcement “The city will make a comprehensive assessment of the plan after examining the issues involved,” he told Matsumoto “We will seek additional information from the national government on how it is ensuring safety.” one conservative municipal assembly member stated that the deployment is "a foregone conclusion," given how the Okinawa Osprey deployment proceeded despite opposition from all local governments on the island Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said on July 16 that the deployment of Osprey and other aircraft "demonstrates the United States' unwavering commitment to the bilateral alliance and its deterrent and response capabilities." Navy in Japan emphasized the Osprey's advantages over C-2 transport planes faster cargo handling and aerial refueling capability Osprey in Japan began in 2012 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture they have also been stationed at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo While the Iwakuni air station has been used regularly as a refueling stop for Ospreys this is the first time the aircraft have been permanently deployed there The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force has 17 Ospreys currently assigned to Camp Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture which are scheduled to be relocated to the Kyushu-Saga International Airport in Saga Prefecture next year (This article was written by Fumito Suzuki and Takuro Yamano.) Deployment of Ospreys off to a bad start; too far to be effective resumes Osprey flights in Japan 3 months after fatal crash to halt Osprey flights after fatal crash in Kyushu An unidentified drone was reportedly spotted in the sky above Iwakuni Airport whose runways are used by both civilian aircraft and the aviation units of the United States Marine Corps base in Iwakuni The incident occurred on December 22 at around 19:00 local time, when a report of an unknown drone in flight was received by the local office of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Caliber.Az reports via Japanese media This led to delays in commercial flights operating from the airport the Tokyo-Iwakuni flight was diverted to Hiroshima Airport Flight safety was confirmed by 20:00 local time To recap, many mysterious drones have been spotted flying over New Jersey and across the eastern US sparking concerns and speculation regarding their origin and purpose the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed temporary flight bans on drones in 22 areas of New Jersey and 30 areas in New York primarily around New York City and Long Island and state agencies are investigating the sightings officials have stated there is no evidence to suggest the drones pose a national security or public safety threat Many of the sightings have turned out to be legal drones Japan — A Marine stationed at this base south of Hiroshima was hit and killed by a freight train over the weekend according to Marine Corps and police spokesmen of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242’s powerline section Daniel Kim told Stars and Stripes by email Tuesday Huff was hit on the JR Sanyo mainline south of Kawashimo while crossing between Iwakuni and Minami-iwakuni stations an Iwakuni city police spokesman said by phone Tuesday The city fire department reported the incident to police at 3:03 a.m. Some government officials in Japan may speak to reporters only on condition of anonymity “The squadron grieves the loss of an exceptional Marine,” Huff’s commander “Corporal Noah Huff served honorably overseas with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 as a motivated powerliner — responsible for safe launches and operations of the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter.” Kim said he could provide no further information due to the ongoing police investigation Huff’s body was returned to the United States on Tuesday and 349 brothers and sisters in arms,” Mellman said Japan — The commissary on this installation south of Hiroshima may lose its baggers in the next few months due to a revamp of the base’s access policy according to a bagger at the commissary on June 6 who declined to identify herself out of fear of retaliation None fall under the status of forces agreement “Commissary baggers are permitted base access in accordance with applicable regulations and granted permission by the store director to enter the commissary for the purpose of bagging groceries,” base spokesman 1st Lt “All personnel who access the installation must follow the base access order.” The decision to reevaluate the baggers’ status was made after reviewing Defense Commissary Agency policy and the air station’s base access policy The baggers were afforded a three-month extension for base access that will expire at the end of August but it’s unknown if that will be extended again “No decision has been made at this point regarding any future base access requests,” he said “Each new request or renewal request will be evaluated to determine whether there is a legitimate requirement and if the visitor is eligible for base access in accordance with the base access order.” Whenever commissary patron Deya Clavijo has a large shopping cart full of groceries “It shouldn’t happen,” the Navy spouse told Stars and Stripes at the commissary Friday there are other things they can change here that is not the baggers.” There are no plans to discontinue baggers at the Iwakuni commissary Defense Commissary Agency spokesman Keith Desbois told Stars and Stripes by email May 24 “Baggers are self-employed persons who have obtained permission from the installation commander to enter the installation for the sole purpose of soliciting commissary customers to bag and carry out their groceries in return for the expectation of a tip,” he wrote Desbois said new requirements implemented by the base are causing confusion on this subject “Baggers do not work for the commissary,” he said “The installation manages the bagger program DeCA has a Memorandum of Understanding with each installation or base for the program.” Desbois did not respond when asked in a follow-up email whether the commissary will find others to take their place baggers started working for tips in the commissaries counters clerks placed customer purchases in bags