Japan Minister of Defense visits Yama Sakura 75

By Sgt. Erica EarlDecember 17, 2018

Japan Minister of Defense visits Yama Sakura 75
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Japan's Minister of Defense, Takeshi Iwaya, greets Japan Northern Army Soldiers during Yama Sakura 75 at Camp Higashi-Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan, Dec. 15, 2018. Iwaya visited the exercise to tour the command post and talk to U.S. Army and Japan Norther... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Japan Minister of Defense visits Yama Sakura 75
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Japan's Minister of Defense, Takeshi Iwaya, greets Japan Northern Army Soldiers during Yama Sakura 75 at Camp Higashi-Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan, Dec. 15, 2018. Iwaya visited the exercise to tour the command post and talk to U.S. Army and Japan Northe... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Japan's Minister of Defense visits Yama Sakura 75
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Japan's Minister of Defense, Takeshi Iwaya, addresses U.S. Army and Japan Northern Army Soldiers during Yama Sakura 75 at Camp Higashi-Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan, Dec. 15, 2018. Iwaya visited the exercise to tour the command post and talk about the sig... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Japan Minister of Defense visits Yama Sakura 75
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Japan's Minister of Defense, Takeshi Iwaya, tours the command post during Yama Sakura 75 at Camp Higashi-Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan, Dec. 15, 2018. Iwaya visited the exercise and talked to U.S. Army and Japan Northern Army Soldiers about the significan... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Japan Minister of Defense visits Yama Sakura 75
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Japan's Minister of Defense, Takeshi Iwaya, tours the command post during Yama Sakura 75 at Camp Higashi-Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan, Dec. 15, 2018. Iwaya visited the exercise and talked to U.S. Army and Japan Northern Army Soldiers about the significan... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP HIGASHI-CHITOSE, Japan-- The Japan Minister of Defense, Takeshi Iwaya, visited Yama Sakura 75 at Camp Higashi-Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan, Dec. 15, 2018.

Iwaya toured the facilities of the exercise and spoke to Soldiers from across America's First Corps and the Japan Northern Army about his appreciation of the forces' alliance and his gratitude for the two Armies to work closely together.

Yama Sakura is a joint, bilateral exercise between the Japan Ground Self Defense Force and the U.S. Army, augmented by the U.S. Marines, Navy and Air Force. The exercise enhances the relationship between the U.S. and Japan through the exchange of ideas, techniques and tactics to keep the region secure. The exercise is a simulation of American forces deploying to aid in the defense of Japan.

This is Iwaya's first visit to Yama Sakura as the Minister of Defense.

As Minister of Defense, Iwaya oversees the Ministry of Defense, which is charged with preserving the independence and national security of Japan through the JGSDF.

The Minister of Defense is appointed by the Prime Minister of Japan.

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Exercise Yama Sakura Facebook