Service members from the U.S. Army's Pacific Command, America's First Corps, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and the Australian Defence Force celebrate the conclusion of Yama Sakura 87 at Camp Asaka, Japan, Dec. 14, 2024. During this iteration of the exercise, participants from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, America's First Corps and the Australia's 1st Division trained together in a dynamic combined, joint environment.

(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brahim Douglas)

Maj. Gen. Ash Collingburn, the 1st Australian Division commanding general, gives remarks during the closing ceremony of Yama Sakura 87 at Camp Asaka, Japan, Dec. 14, 2024. This marks the second year the Australian Army’s 1st Division is participating in Yama Sakura, bringing their experience from last year’s exercise to enhance their readiness for lasting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

CAMP ASAKA, Japan — Yama Sakura 87 comes to an end with service members from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the Australian Defence Force, and the U.S. Army's First Corps gathering to take part in the event’s closing ceremony held at Camp Asaka, Japan, Dec. 14, 2024. The exercise leveraged new concepts and ideas to enhance the interoperability and combined readiness among the allied and partnered nations.

Following the ceremony, a trilateral statement commemorating the success of the exercise among the three nations stated:

“We have just concluded another successful trilateral Yama Sakura exercise involving service members from Japan, the United States of America and Australia. This exercise allows us to improve our joint human, procedural and technical interoperability and enhance our collaboration among cross-domain operations and multi-domain operations. Yama Sakura’s greatest achievement is its longevity, a legacy of growth and relationships forged over 40 years between our countries. We look forward to all the exercises to come rekindling these friendships and applying the lessons learned together. Yama Sakura, One Team!"

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Lt. Gen. Toshikazu Yamane, commander of Ground Component Command, addresses military members of Australia, Japan and the United States during the Yama Sakura 87 closing ceremony at Camp Asaka, Japan, Dec. 14, 2024. Yama Sakura 87 is the largest joint and trilateral command post exercise co-sponsored by U.S. Army Pacific and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, the commander of I Corps, addresses military members of Australia, Japan and the United States during Yama Sakura 87's closing ceremony at Camp Asaka, Japan, Dec. 14, 2024. Yama Sakura 87 is the largest joint and trilateral command post exercise co-sponsored by U.S. Army Pacific and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

The trilateral command post exercise is the cornerstone event of the U.S. Army’s Pacific’s Operation Pathways series, demonstrating America's commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

The exercise saw many first, including the inaugural U.S. Army Warfighter held in Japan — also the first Warfighter to run concurrent with Yama Sakura.

More than 7,000 service members from the three allied and partnered nations participated in the 10-day exercise. The trilateral exercise spread across three nations, six locations and 17 time zones.

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, the commander of I Corps, gives a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force member a coin during Yama Sakura 87's closing ceremony at Camp Asaka, Japan, Dec. 14, 2024. Yama Sakura 87 is the largest joint and trilateral command post exercise co-sponsored by U.S. Army Pacific and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

Additionally, Yama Sakura saw the Philippines, India, Singapore, France, the United Kingdom and Canada invited as observers for future participation in similar exercises that ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The closing ceremony ended with a recognition of service members. Commanders from each nation presented coins of excellence to those selected, followed by a gift exchange between the allied and partnered nations.

Since its first iteration in 1982, Yama Sakura has demonstrated a continued commitment by both the United States and Japan to work together as dedicated allies in support of the U.S.-Japan security treaty and for continued peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.