Col. Marcus Hunter, left, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Japan, and others participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially reopen a fitness center at Sagami General Depot, Japan, Aug. 27, 2024. The center underwent several renovations as part of a two-year-plus project. (Photo Credit: Yuichi Imada)
SAGAMI GENERAL DEPOT, Japan – The U.S. Army Garrison Japan commander helped reopen the fitness center here during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday following a two-year-plus project to bring it back to its former glory.
The center, which was built in the 1950s and took time to refurbish due to structural issues, will benefit Soldiers and civilian employees working at the depot.
“It is amazing,” Col. Marcus Hunter said of the renovated gym. “This place is going to withstand not just some epic basketball and volleyball games, but also a lot of other important purposes that supports everybody all across Sagami Depot.”
The gym includes an indoor basketball court and an air-conditioned weight room with strength and cardio fitness equipment available 24 hours a day.
Before he and others cut the ribbon to officially open the center, Hunter gave a shout-out to the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation and Public Works directorates for overseeing the project.
“Thanks to everybody that was part of that [effort] two and a half years ago,” Hunter said. “And thanks to all those that are going to continue to make use of [the fitness center] and enjoy it in the coming years.”
Eric Hill, director of FMWR, said the revamped fitness center, as well as other facilities the garrison manages, will also soon receive upgraded strength equipment as part of the Army Bulk Buy Program.
The new items will either replace or augment existing strength equipment, such as weight benches, barbells and functional fitness equipment.
“It improves our buying power,” Hill said of the program, “and it allows us to have uniformed equipment when you go from one installation to the next. You’re seeing the same stuff.”
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Various fitness equipment can be seen inside an air-conditioned weight room at a renovated fitness center at Sagami General Depot, Japan, Aug. 27, 2024. The center underwent several renovations as part of a two-year-plus project. (Photo Credit: Yuichi Imada)
Given the limited fitness options on the depot, Hill said the renovated center will be a welcomed amenity to all community members there.
“In addition to the physical readiness for the Soldiers out here, it’s also kind of a central community point for the folks that work on the installation,” he said.
Gymgoers will also be able to access the gym at any time through a cipher lock. The code can be obtained by registering for access at the Sagami Depot Lounge.
“If there are people working shifts, they can still come and use it after hours,” Hill said. “We just ask that they sign in when they come in so we can track the usage.”
Hill said the project took longer than expected because of structural challenges and supply chain delays.
“It was a really big project,” he said. “They’ve done a lot to get this back to a better condition than it probably was when it was new. I’m just excited to have it as another resource out here.”
With its proximity to several organizations, such as the 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade headquarters, the fitness center will save Soldiers from driving 30 minutes or longer to Camp Zama for their daily physical training.
“With the gym being opened now, we have an opportunity to come here to work out and just go across the street to work,” said Lt. Col. Rashaun Warren, the brigade’s deputy commander.
Warren also said Soldiers really appreciate when the Army makes these types of efforts to improve their quality of life.
“I think it’s awesome,” he said. “It’s always good to have a new facility, because it makes the Soldiers feel involved and lets them know that people care about them.”
