CAMP ITAMI, Japan — U.S. Army Pacific and Japan Ground Self Defense Force train together for this year’s Yama Sakura 61 at Camp Itami in Osaka, Japan. (video by Staff Sgt. Rebecca Wood, Kentucky National Guard 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Members of the Yama Sakura 61's Public Affairs Office tell the stories of the personnel associated with the exercise. Members include: Mr. Hideo Kawada, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Oliver, Maj. Randall Baucom, Spc. Josh Bennett, Airman 1st Class Laura Yahemiak, Staff Sgt. Fredrick Varney, Spc. Brandy Mort and Staff Sgt. Rebecca Wood. (Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Bell)

OSAKA, Japan – What started off as a whirlwind of a mission evolved into a great working and learning experience for the 133^rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment as they embarked on a mission to Camp Itami located on the outskirts of Osaka, Japan.

Members of the Kentucky National Guard’s 133^rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment provided direct public affairs support to the Yama Sakura 61 exercise at Camp Itami from Jan. 23- Feb. 3.

The members selected to participate coined the nickname, the Japan 5. The Japan 5 included Sgt. 1^st Class Michael Oliver, acting 1^st Sgt, broadcast journalists Staff Sgt. Rebecca Wood and Spc. Josh Bennett, and print journalists Staff Sgt. Fredrick Varney and I, Spc. Brandy Mort.

For one member of the Japan 5 team it was a second chance to visit home.

“I was extremely excited to hear about our Japan mission,” said Sgt. 1^st Class Michael Oliver, “It gave me an opportunity to come back to my birthplace. “

The Japan 5 began their trip by flying out of Louisville, Ky. International Airport.  An unexpected tornado in Louisville delayed all flight schedules forcing the team to spend the night in Chicago.

After spending the night in “The Windy City”, the team finally boarded a plane headed for Tokyo.  Fifteen hours later the team reached Camp Itami, Japan.

With droopy eyes and a serious case of jet-lag, team members managed to sit through a briefing conducted by the in-processing staff at Camp Itami.

Maj. Randall Baucom, Chief of Public Affairs U.S. Army Japan, introduced himself as the Yama Sakura 61 exercise Public Affairs Officer and gave the team the overall mission objective, guidelines and procedures.

The very next day after the arrival the Japan 5 got the ball rolling with their mission. Their mission was to provide direct Public Affairs support for the Yama Sakura 61 exercise.

Spc. Josh Bennett, Broadcast Journalist with the 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, reviews the footage he shot during the Morale Welfare and Recreation trips offered during Yama Sakura 61 in Osaka, Japan, Jan. 28. (Photo By Spc. Brandy Mort, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Yama Sakura is a bi-annual, bilateral computer simulated command post exercise designed to strengthen military operations and ties between the U.S. Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

Since most of the Japan 5 team are traditional Guard members, Yama Sakura gave them an opportunity to work in an active Public Affairs Office.

“This mission has helped me work under pressure and produce products with a quick turn-around,” said Spc. Josh Bennett.  “That’s something I wasn’t used to before coming to Japan.”

During their mission the Japan 5 produced 19 news stories.  This includes nine news articles and 10 video productions.

“MPADs, I have found, come in all shapes and sizes,” said Baucom, “The 133rd is one of the top two National Guard MPADs I have worked with in the 9 years as a Public Affairs Officer.”

The overall mission proved to be a success for the Japan 5 team.

“I’m very proud of the job accomplished by the 133^rd MPAD during Yama Sakura 61,” said Staff Sgt. Fredrick Varney, print journalist for the 133^rd MPAD, “ We have represented the unit, the state, and the Kentucky National Guard well.”

Yama Sakura 61 begins with an opening ceremony for the U.S. Army Pacific and the Japan Ground Self Defense Force Jan. 30. (Photo by Spc. Brandy Mort, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

OSAKA, Japan –U.S. Army Soldiers and the Japan Ground Self Defense Force members participated in the 2012 Yama Sakura 61 exercise at Camp Itami in Osaka, Japan, Jan. 23 – Feb. 6.

Yama Sakura is an annual, simulation computer driven joint-bilateral exercise between the JGSDF from Middle Army and the U.S. Army Pacific.

 This exercise is designed to strengthen military operations between the two forces at the operational level and aid in the defense of Japan.  YS61 builds a working relationship between both countries and provides a platform to learn the different work ethics.

 Participating in the Yama Sakura exercises proved to be a valuable tool during the relief efforts of March 2011 Northern Japan’s earthquake and tsunami.

“Working together enabled us to seemingly come together and work hard to support the JGSDF. I think that paid great dividence to the Japanese people,” said Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski, Commander for the U.S. Army Pacific.

YS 61 is the first iteration since the March 11 Northern Japan disaster.

“This is an extremely important exercise,” said Maj. Miranda Killingsworth, Civil Affairs Planner for the U.S. Army Pacific Contingency Command Post.  “It not only builds a relationship and understanding with our Japanese counterparts, it also reassures the Japanese and American people that there is a relationship between our two nations.”

Cultural events were offered to members participating in this iteration of YS61. Participants visited historical sites to include Kiyomizu Temple, Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion, Todai temple and the Osaka Castle.  Visits to homes of JGSDF members were also offered to U.S. military personnel.

“I enjoyed visiting the Kiyomizu Temple,” said Sgt. 1^st Class Michael Oliver, 133^rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment senior non-commissioned officer. “It was my first time getting out and enjoying the scenery and it taught me a lot about the Japanese culture.”

Along with getting to view the Japanese cultural sites, U.S. service members were able to bond with their Japanese counterparts at Camp Itami’s Friendship Hall.

Maj. Miranda Killingsworth, Civil Affairs Planner with U.S. Army Pacific Contingency Command Post, works on an operational chart during Yama Sakura 61 at Camp Itami in Osaka, Japan. (Photo by Spc. Brandy Mort, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

“YS 61 gave me an opportunity to talk to and get to know new people and see the Japanese culture,” said Spc. Vinson Williams, Geospatial Engineer with the 34^thInfantry Division, Minnesota National Guard.

The exercise officially started with an opening ceremony and a bilateral press conference in which U.S. Army Pacific Commander, Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski and Middle Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Ryuichiro Arakawa addressed both troops and media.

“I know one thing about this exercise and that is we will make mistakes and that’s a very good thing because if we make the mistakes here and we make the corrections here we won’t make them when it counts,” said Wiercinski.

The primary units that participated the YS61 exercise are U.S. Army Japn, 8^th Army, and the JGSDF’s Middle Army. U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine and for the first time, the Australian Defense Force are observing are also joining the exercise to include National Guard and Reserve units.

Yama Sakura 63 is slated for Dec. 2012 with the Northeast Army of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force.

l U.S. Service Members join the Okamoto family for a home visit during Yama Sakura 61 in Osaka Japan, Jan. 29th. (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Rebecca Wood, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

CAMP ITAMI, Japan — “Kompai!” yelled the group as they toasted in the home of Maj. Yasuo Okamoto.  The night was a celebration for Okamoto and his wife, Mika, because they had four U.S. Soldiers participating in the Yama Sakura exercise from Camp Itami eating, drinking and being merry in their living room.

As a tradition of the Yama Sakura exercise, U.S. Army Japan Soldiers participated in a home visit to the household of Maj. Yasuo Okamoto, Chief of Security for Middle Army’s Japan Ground Self Defense Force in Osaka, Japan, Jan. 29.

More than 90 selected Soldiers were chosen to go to 32 homes of JGSDF members. U.S Service Members shared traditional Japanese meals, which made life-changing experiences.

“I wasn’t aware of the Japanese customs like taking off shoes and putting on slippers,” said Master Sgt. Cornelius Kenan of the U.S. Army Pacific’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion. “I was fairly new to using chopsticks but with practice, I’m getting better.”

“The food was delicious,” said Capt. William Johnson of U.S. Army Pacific Headquarters and Headquarters Company. “Everything we ate was amazing. They fixed a wide variety of food like spring rolls, egg rolls, katsu, along with a casserole and pizza.”

The Soldiers exchanged gifts with the family, drew calligraphy, made origami, took turns playing with a kendama, a traditional Japanese toy, and told stories. Okamoto was lively and upbeat throughout the night.  At the end of the evening he, with the help of an interpreter, addressed the group.

“Yesterday I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to provide proper hospitality because of the language barrier but now I realize we can communicate just fine by using heart,” said Okamoto.

The Soldiers noticed more than Okamoto’s heart. They realized they learned more about the Japanese culture than they had thought.

“Japanese people are laid back, their customs are a lot different then ours, but in the end they are just like us,” said Kenan.

At the end of the evening some of the Soldiers invited the Okamoto’s family to visit them in Hawaii. They took off their slippers, put on their boots, and went back to Camp Itami.

“I would love to invite a Japanese service member to my home. I want to give them the same experience that they gave us,” said Johnson.

CAMP ITAMI, Japan — Kentucky Guardsmen from the 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment support this year’s Yama Sakura exercise at Camp Itami in Osaka, Japan.  The Service Members include Sgt. 1st Michael Oliver, Staff Sgt. Fredrick Varney, Staff Sgt. Rebecca Wood, Spc. Joshua Bennett and Spc. Brandy Mort.

Yama Sakura 61, an annual bilateral exercise with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force and U.S. Army Pacific officially began Jan. 30 at Camp Itami, Japan.

CAMP ITAMI, Japan –-Yama Sakura 61, an annual bilateral exercise with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force and U.S. Army Pacific officially began, Jan. 30, at Camp Itami, Japan.

Yama Sakura 61 initiates with an opening ceremony with the U.S. Army Pacific and the Japan Ground Self Defense Force Jan. 30. (National Guard Photo by Spc. Brandy Mort, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

U.S. military members and Japan Ground Self Defense Force members are afforded the opportunity to exchange ideas, tactics, techniques, and military experiences in order to ensure the defense of Japan and support security interests in the region.

U.S. Army Pacific Commander Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski and Middle Army Commander of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force Lt. Gen. Ryuichiro Arakawa shake hands during the bilateral press conference Yama Sakura 61 Jan. 30. (National Guard Photo by Staff Sgt. Fredrick P. Varney, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Objectives of Yama Sakura 61 include training U.S. ground forces for deployment to Japan in the event of contingencies, as well as exercising joint capabilities in the defense of Japan.

Since 1982, Yama Sakura has focused on the development and refinement of the JGSDF and U.S. Army Pacific’s efforts in the areas of bilateral planning, coordination and interoperability through training.

During the opening ceremony, U.S. Army Pacific Commander Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Middle Army Commander Lt. Gen. Ryuichiro Arakawa, both stressed the importance of the annual bilateral exercise.

“Yama Sakura is a premier exercise for U.S. Army Pacific,” said Wiercinski. “Every year we improve our strong bi-lateral partnerships and this year is no exception.”

Arakawa said Yama Sakura 61 is the largest exercise where the Japan Ground Self Defense Force and U.S. Army Pacific can train their mutual coordination through bilateral command and staff activities.

“Yama Sakura is the first bilateral Army Command Post Exercise after the Great East Japan Earthquake,” said Arakawa. “We closely cooperated with the U.S. military through such command post activities during the disaster relief operation.”

For the first time in the history of Yama Sakura, members from the Australian Defense Force are observing the command post exercise.

More than 800 U.S. military personnel and over 3,500 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personnel are participating in YS61.

Package about how the military personnel attend various moral welfare and recreation activities offered during Yama Sakura 61. Soundbites include PVT. Michael Phillip, WO1 Edwards Sistrunk and MAJ. Richard Dixon. Produced by Spc. Josh Bennett.

Package about how military personnel attend dance and drum ceremonies offered at Camp Itami for Yama Sakura 61. Soundbite includes SPC. Vinson Williams – 34ID HHC, Rosemount, MN. Produced by SPC. Josh Bennett – 133rd MPAD.

OSAKA, Japan — U.S. Service Members pitch in to help clean up the Osaka Castle during the Yama Sakura exercise in Osaka, Japan.  Yama Sakura exercise underscores the strength of the close, long standing relationship the U.S. Military has with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force.