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Samurai Challenge: Sakura Madness at Yokota AB
Yokota Air Base
April 6, 2026
A participant throws a basketball during the Samurai Challenge at Yokota Air Base, Japan, March 27, 2026. This month’s Samurai Challenge, themed “Sakura Madness,” featured teams of three competing in a basketball tournament and a mixed-skill relay. (Photo by Airman 1st Class David S. Calcote/U.S. Air Force)
Members from across Yokota gathered for a basketball competition for this month’s iteration of the Samurai Challenge at Yokota Air Base, Japan, March 25, 2026. The challenge is a 12-month series of physical fitness events designed to test strength, enhance unit camaraderie, and serve as a proving ground for warrior ethos across the installation.