New Marine commander for Okinawa visits Okinawa governor

New Marine commander for Okinawa visits Okinawa governor

Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson (L), U.S. Marine Corps' commander in charge of areas covering Japan's Okinawa Prefecture, holds talks with Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki (R) during a visit to his prefectural government office in Naha on July 21, 2026. Watson assumed the post on July 15.

Japan-U.S. drill to defend remote islands

Japan-U.S. drill to defend remote islands

Photo shows the U.S. Marine Corps' missile systems -- the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS (front), and the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS -- at Camp Hansen in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa on June 30, 2026, the final day of the Resolute Dragon Japan-U.S. joint defense drill. A total of 9,600 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and Marine Corps personnel took part in the 11-day drill, conducted in Okinawa and the southwestern Japan main island of Kyushu to strengthen capabilities to defend remote islands.

Japan-U.S. drill to defend remote islands

Japan-U.S. drill to defend remote islands

Lt. Gen. Seiji Toriumi (R), commander of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Western Army, shakes hands with Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, commanding general of the U.S. Marine Corps' III Marine Expeditionary Force, during a press conference at the Marine Corps' Camp Hansen in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa on June 30, 2026, the final day of the Resolute Dragon joint defense drill. A total of 9,600 GSDF and Marine Corps personnel took part in the 11-day drill, conducted in Okinawa and the southwestern Japan main island of Kyushu to strengthen capabilities to defend remote islands.

Japan-U.S. drill to defend remote islands

Japan-U.S. drill to defend remote islands

Lt. Gen. Seiji Toriumi (R), commander of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Western Army, shakes hands with Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, commanding general of the U.S. Marine Corps' III Marine Expeditionary Force, during a press conference at the Marine Corps' Camp Hansen in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa on June 30, 2026, the final day of the Resolute Dragon joint defense drill. A total of 9,600 GSDF and Marine Corps personnel took part in the 11-day drill, conducted in Okinawa and the southwestern Japan main island of Kyushu to strengthen capabilities to defend remote islands.

Japan-U.S. joint firing drill

Japan-U.S. joint firing drill

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Marine Corps conduct a joint firing exercise on June 28, 2026, at the GSDF's Hijudai training range located across Kusu and surrounding areas in Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan. About 400 GSDF and Marine Corps personnel took part in the exercise, part of the Resolute Dragon joint defense drill, designed to strengthen capabilities to defense remote islands.

Japan-U.S. joint firing drill

Japan-U.S. joint firing drill

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Marine Corps conduct a joint firing exercise on June 28, 2026, at the GSDF's Hijudai training range located across Kusu and surrounding areas in Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan. About 400 GSDF and Marine Corps personnel took part in the exercise, part of the Resolute Dragon joint defense drill, designed to strengthen capabilities to defense remote islands.

Japan-U.S. joint defense drill

Japan-U.S. joint defense drill

Colonel Richard Neikirk, commanding officer of the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment of the U.S. Marine Corps, attends joint exercise Resolute Dragon designed to strengthen capabilities to defend remote islands at the Ground Self-Defense Force's Hijudai training range located across Kusu and surrounding areas in Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on June 25, 2026.

Japan-U.S. joint defense drill

Japan-U.S. joint defense drill

Colonel Richard Neikirk, commanding officer of the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment of the U.S. Marine Corps, attends joint exercise Resolute Dragon designed to strengthen capabilities to defend remote islands at the Ground Self-Defense Force's Hijudai training range located across Kusu and surrounding areas in Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on June 25, 2026.

Japan-U.S. joint defense exercise

Japan-U.S. joint defense exercise

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personnel and U.S. Marine Corps personnel attend a ceremony at the GSDF's Kengun base in Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, on June 20, 2026, ahead of their joint exercise Resolute Dragon designed to strengthen capabilities to defend remote islands.

Landfill work for U.S. base transfer within Okinawa

Landfill work for U.S. base transfer within Okinawa

Photo taken on June 17, 2026, shows work getting under way to dump landfill into a newly designated area in Oura Bay off the Henoko coastal area in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within the southern Japan island prefecture.

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, opens to the general public on May 3, 2026, during a U.S.-Japan friendship day event.

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, opens to the general public on May 3, 2026, during a U.S.-Japan friendship day event.

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, opens to the general public on May 3, 2026, during a U.S.-Japan friendship day event.

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, opens to the general public on May 3, 2026, during a U.S.-Japan friendship day event.

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, opens to the general public on May 3, 2026, during a U.S.-Japan friendship day event.

Japan-U.S. Iron Fist joint exercise in Okinawa

Japan-U.S. Iron Fist joint exercise in Okinawa

Japan Self-Defense Forces and U.S. military personnel salute during the opening ceremony of their Iron Fist joint exercise at U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Hansen in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa on Feb. 23, 2026.

Japan-U.S. Iron Fist joint exercise in Okinawa

Japan-U.S. Iron Fist joint exercise in Okinawa

Japan Self-Defense Forces and U.S. military personnel pose for a group photo after the opening ceremony of their Iron Fist joint exercise at U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Hansen in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa on Feb. 23, 2026.

Japan defense minister visits Okinawa Pref.

Japan defense minister visits Okinawa Pref.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (front) looks at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from the rooftop of the Ginowan city government building in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa on Jan. 8, 2026.

Japan defense minister visits Okinawa Pref.

Japan defense minister visits Okinawa Pref.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (front) looks at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from the rooftop of the Ginowan city government building in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa on Jan. 8, 2026.

Japan defense minister in Okinawa

Japan defense minister in Okinawa

Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, commanding general of the U.S. Marine Corps' III Marine Expeditionary Force and Okinawa Area Coordinator, speaks during a meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in Naha in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, on Jan. 7, 2026.

Japan defense minister in Okinawa

Japan defense minister in Okinawa

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (R) shakes hands with Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, commanding general of the U.S. Marine Corps' III Marine Expeditionary Force and Okinawa Area Coordinator, as they hold a meeting in Naha in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, on Jan. 7, 2026.

Site for U.S. base relocation in Okinawa

NAGO, Japan, Nov. 28 Kyodo - Construction work continues off the Henoko coastal area in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on Nov. 28, 2025, for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station from another part of the southern Japan island prefecture. (Kyodo)

Landfill work begins for U.S. base transfer within Okinawa

Landfill work begins for U.S. base transfer within Okinawa

Photo taken from a Kyodo News plane on Nov. 28, 2025, shows work getting under way to dump landfill into Oura Bay off the Henoko coastal area in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within the southern Japan island prefecture.

Landfill work begins for U.S. base transfer within Okinawa

Landfill work begins for U.S. base transfer within Okinawa

Photo taken from a Kyodo News plane on Nov. 28, 2025, shows work getting under way to dump landfill into Oura Bay off the Henoko coastal area in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within the southern Japan island prefecture.

Landfill work begins for U.S. base transfer within Okinawa

Landfill work begins for U.S. base transfer within Okinawa

Photo taken from a Kyodo News plane on Nov. 28, 2025, shows work getting under way to dump landfill into Oura Bay off the Henoko coastal area in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within the southern Japan island prefecture.

Landfill work begins for U.S. base transfer within Okinawa

Landfill work begins for U.S. base transfer within Okinawa

Photo taken from a Kyodo News plane on Nov. 28, 2025, shows work getting under way to dump landfill into Oura Bay off the Henoko coastal area in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within the southern Japan island prefecture.

Landfill work begins for U.S. base transfer within Okinawa

Landfill work begins for U.S. base transfer within Okinawa

Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki meets the press at the prefectural headquarters in Naha on Nov. 28, 2025, as work gets under way to dump landfill into Oura Bay off the Henoko coastal area in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within the southern Japan island prefecture.

Site for U.S. base relocation in Okinawa

Site for U.S. base relocation in Okinawa

Japan Coast Guard boats patrol on Nov. 28, 2025, in the Henoko coastal area in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, where construction work continues for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station from another part of the southern Japan island prefecture.

Site for U.S. base relocation in Okinawa

Site for U.S. base relocation in Okinawa

Japan Coast Guard boats patrol on Nov. 28, 2025, in the Henoko coastal area in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, where construction work continues for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station from another part of the southern Japan island prefecture.

Site for U.S. base relocation in Okinawa

Site for U.S. base relocation in Okinawa

Construction work continues off the Henoko coastal area in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on Nov. 28, 2025, for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station from another part of the southern Japan island prefecture.

Site for U.S. base relocation in Okinawa

Site for U.S. base relocation in Okinawa

Construction work continues off the Henoko coastal area in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on Nov. 28, 2025, for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station from another part of the southern Japan island prefecture.

Site for U.S. base relocation in Okinawa

Site for U.S. base relocation in Okinawa

Construction work continues off the Henoko coastal area in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on Nov. 28, 2025, for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station from another part of the southern Japan island prefecture.

US: Veterans Day Parades Honor 250th Anniversary of Military

Veterans Day parades marched through cities across the U.S. on Tuesday, November 11, honoring the 250th anniversary of America's military.

Japan: Trump Arrives at U.S. Navy Yokosuka Base Aboard Marine One 2

U.S. President Donald Trump, visiting Japan, arrived at the U.S. Navy’s Yokosuka Base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Tuesday afternoon, October 28 aboard Marine One, accompanied by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Several videos of Marine One flying over the Tokyo metropolitan area were posted on social media.

Japan: Trump Arrives at U.S. Navy Yokosuka Base Aboard Marine One

U.S. President Donald Trump, visiting Japan, arrived at the U.S. Navy’s Yokosuka Base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Tuesday afternoon, October 28 aboard Marine One, accompanied by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Several videos of Marine One flying over the Tokyo metropolitan area were posted on social media.

U.S. missile system in Okinawa

KIN, Japan, Sept. 20 Kyodo - The U.S. Marine Corps unveils its Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS, to the media on Sept. 20, 2025, at Camp Hansen in Japan's southern island prefecture of Okinawa. (Kyodo)

U.S. Marine live-fire training in Okinawa

KIN, Japan, Sept. 23 Kyodo - U.S. Marine Corps personnel conduct machine-gun live-fire training in front of the media at Camp Hansen in Japan's southern island prefecture of Okinawa on Sept. 22, 2025. (Kyodo)

U.S. Marine live-fire training in Okinawa

U.S. Marine live-fire training in Okinawa

U.S. Marine Corps personnel conduct machine-gun live-fire training in front of the media at Camp Hansen in Japan's southern island prefecture of Okinawa on Sept. 22, 2025.

U.S. Marine live-fire training in Okinawa

U.S. Marine live-fire training in Okinawa

U.S. Marine Corps personnel conduct machine-gun live-fire training in front of the media at Camp Hansen in Japan's southern island prefecture of Okinawa on Sept. 22, 2025.

U.S. Marine live-fire training in Okinawa

U.S. Marine live-fire training in Okinawa

U.S. Marine Corps personnel conduct machine-gun live-fire training in front of the media at Camp Hansen in Japan's southern island prefecture of Okinawa on Sept. 22, 2025.

U.S. missile system in Okinawa

U.S. missile system in Okinawa

The U.S. Marine Corps unveils its Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS, to the media on Sept. 20, 2025, at Camp Hansen in Japan's southern island prefecture of Okinawa.

U.S. Navy jet landing and takeoff exercises

U.S. Navy jet landing and takeoff exercises

A U.S. Navy F-35C stealth strike fighter conducts landing and takeoff exercises at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Sept. 17, 2025.

U.S. Navy jet landing and takeoff exercises

U.S. Navy jet landing and takeoff exercises

A U.S. Navy F-35C stealth strike fighter conducts landing and takeoff exercises at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Sept. 17, 2025.

U.S. Navy jet landing and takeoff exercises

U.S. Navy jet landing and takeoff exercises

A U.S. Navy F/A-18 combat aircraft conducts landing and takeoff exercises at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, on Sept. 17, 2025.

Japan-U.S. joint drill on Ishigaki Island

Japan-U.S. joint drill on Ishigaki Island

Photo taken on Sept. 17, 2025, shows the U.S. Marine Corps' missile systems -- the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS (L and C), and the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS -- at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Camp Ishigaki on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, deployed for the Sept. 11-25 Resolute Dragon Japan-U.S. joint exercise.

Japan-U.S. joint drill on Ishigaki Island

Japan-U.S. joint drill on Ishigaki Island

Photo taken on Sept. 17, 2025, shows the U.S. Marine Corps' missile systems -- the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS (L and C), and the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS -- at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Camp Ishigaki on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, deployed for the Sept. 11-25 Resolute Dragon Japan-U.S. joint exercise.

Japan-U.S. joint drill on Ishigaki Island

Japan-U.S. joint drill on Ishigaki Island

Photo taken from a drone shows the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Camp Ishigaki on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, on Sept. 17, 2025, during the Sept. 11-25 Resolute Dragon joint exercise with the U.S. Marine Corps.

Japan-U.S. joint drill on Ishigaki Island

Japan-U.S. joint drill on Ishigaki Island

Photo taken from a drone shows the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Camp Ishigaki on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, on Sept. 17, 2025, during the Sept. 11-25 Resolute Dragon joint exercise with the U.S. Marine Corps.

The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration - Chicago

The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration - Chicago

A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft performs during the 2025 Chicago Air and Water Show in Chicago, the United States, August 17, 2025. Photo by Joel Lerner/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

National Independence Day Celebration - DC

National Independence Day Celebration - DC

Hundreds gather on a grassy hill around the Netherlands Carillon and nearby Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va., to mark U.S. Independence Day celebrations on July 4, 2025. The site overlooks Washington, D.C., offering panoramic views of the National Mall fireworks. Photo by Mehmet Eser/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM