JGSDF soldiers conduct room clearing procedures at Camp Takigahara, Japan.
Photo by Spc. Tyler Long, USA

A U.S. Army soldier sets up a metal mine detector, during an engineer obstacle clearing exercise near Camp Takigahara, Japan.
Photo by Sgt. Lorenzo A. Sam, USA

JGSDF soldiers search and tag a “dead”
enemy during counterguerrilla warfare
training, as U.S. Marines look on.
PHOTO BY LCPL. CORY P. GRIFFITH, USMC

Citizens of Beppu City, Japan, wave American and Japanese flags to greet U.S. Marines arriving to take part in KEEN SWORD.
Photo by LCpl. Cory P. Griffith, USMC

U.S Marines conduct a simulated helicopter raid on a hilltop in Hijudai, Japan.
Photo by SSgt. Cecilio M. Ricardo Jr., USAF

JGSDF personnel demonstrate Japanese martial arts for the U.S. Marines.
Photo by SSgt. Cecilio M. Ricardo Jr., USAF

JGSDF troops acting the part of civilian evacuees walk on the ramp at the U.S. Naval Air Facility in Atsugi, Japan, during a non-combatant evacuation exercise.
Photo by LCpl. Josh A. Roman, USMC

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-1 fighter jet takes off from Tsuiki Air Base, Japan, in support of Exercise KEEN SWORD.
Photo by SSgt. Jeremy T. Lock, USAF

Korea-based U.S. Air Force (USAF) F-16s fly an air-to-air combat mission in support of Exercise KEEN SWORD at Tsuiki Air Base, Japan.
Photo by SSgt. Jeremy T. Lock, USAF

A JASDF F-1 pilot enters his aircraft to participate in a bilateral air defense exercise designed to defend Japan against foreign aggression.
Photo by SSgt. Jeremy T. Lock, USAF

JMSDF, USAF, and U.S. Navy (USN) personnel work together aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63).
Photo by PH1 Ted Banks, USN

A JMSDF SH-60J Seahawk helicopter approaches the flight deck of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63).
Photo by PH1 Ted Banks, USN

Gen. Motoaki Watanabe, Director General, Joint Staff Office, Japan Defense Agency, and Lt Gen. Thomas Waskow, Commander U.S Forces Japan (USFJ), listen to a briefing on U.S. Marine Corps’ operations in Exercise KEEN SWORD.
Photo by SSgt. Jeremy T. Lock, USAF

On the hills of Mt. Fuji, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) members brief U.S. Army soldiers on the search and clearing of buildings in an urban environment.
Photo by Sgt. Joseph Francis, USA

JGSDF soldiers show U.S. Army engineers how the JGSDF uses obstacle clearing equipment, as both forces train on engineer obstacle clearing tactics near Camp Takigahara, Japan.

JGSDF soldiers search and tag a “dead” enemy during counterguerrilla warfare training, as U.S. Marines look on.
Photo by LCpl. Cory P. Griffith, USMC

Lt. Gen. Masaaki Matsukawa gives an exercise briefing in the Hijudai training area.
Photo by SSgt. Jeremy T. Lock, USAF

As his Japanese counterpart watches, a U.S. Marine tries on a Japanese nuclear, biological, chemical mask.
Photo by LCpl. Cory P. Griffith, USMC

JGSDF soldiers watch as U.S. Marines demonstrate a hip toss during counterguerrilla training.
Photo by LCpl. Cory P. Griffith, USMC

A JGSDF member advises individuals who will play the part of evacuees on the proper steps for processing, during a non-combatant evacuation exercise at Atsugi, Japan.
Photo by LCpl. Josh A. Roman,USMC

JGSDF soldiers and U.S. Marines play a friendly game of soccer on the field of Camp Beppu, Japan.
Photo by LCpl. Cory P. Griffith, USMC

Two JMSDF ships steam alongside the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) during Exercise Keen sword.
Photo by PH3 Todd Frantom, USN

U.S. Navy aircraft on the flight deck of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) during KEEN SWORD.
Photo by PH1 Ted Banks, USN

A U.S. Navy F/A-18C Hornet lands on the flight deck of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) during keen sword.
Photo by PH1 Ted Banks, USN

The close cooperation between Japanese and U.S. forces ensured successful execution of KEEN SWORD. Here, USFJ Commander Lt. Gen. Thomas Waskow greets JGSDF Colonel Mutsuo Watanabe, Commander of the 41st Infantry Regiment, during a visit to the JGSDF Command Post in the Hijudai training area.
Photo by SSgt. Jeremy T. Lock, USAF