MCAS Iwakuni, Iwakuni City friendship runs deep

IWAKUNI CITY, Japan -- Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and Japanese residents attended a U.S.-Japan Sports Exchange in Iwakuni City, Japan, July 21, 2018.

The Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau held the sports exchange to signify the opening of Go-Go Field to the public.

American and Japanese children experienced multiple track and field events such as sprinting, hurdling, a relay race, and they even participated in a dodgeball tournament.

“I think to both the U.S. personnel and the Japanese citizens, Go-Go Field means a lot,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard F. Fuerst, commanding officer of MCAS Iwakuni. “This field gave the local citizens, both U.S. and Japanese, an opportunity to come out here, get in shape, have fun, get to know each other and continue to build on the relationship that we have through sports.”

In attendance to show support for the event was U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard F. Fuerst, commanding officer of MCAS Iwakuni, Yoshihiko Fukuda, mayor of Iwakuni City, and Masahiro Akase, the director general of the Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau.

Mayor Fukuda said that with the completion of the Atago sports complex he expects the facilities to become the center of cultural exchange between the U.S. and Japanese residents in the surrounding area.

Iwakuni City, as well as leadership from MCAS Iwakuni, will continue to focus on strengthening the relationship between one another.

“We have a lot of plans for this place,” said Fuerst. “The sky is the limit. There are a lot of things we haven’t thought about yet. The Japanese and U.S. citizens can propose ideas to us, and we can get out here, support them, have lots of fun and build relationships here in Iwakuni.”