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Press Releases

Japan Provides Asset Protection for Australian and US Ships in Trilateral Exercise
November 21, 2022 — The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has successfully provided asset protection for Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and United States Navy (USN) ships during an exercise in the seas off Japan.The... MORE

U.S. and Japan Conduct Bilateral Bomber Integration Exercise
November 19, 2022 — On Nov. 19, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command deployed two bombers in a bilateral air exercise with additional Japan Self-Defense Forces fighters to demonstrate the consistent, lethal, and capable deterrence... MORE

U.S. and Japan Self-Defense Forces conclude biennial exercise Keen Sword 2023
November 18, 2022 — Units from the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and U.S. military have concluded exercise Keen Sword 23 on November 19, 2022, after 11 days of bilateral and multinational training... MORE

U.S. and Japan Conduct Bilateral Integration Air Exercise
November 18, 2022 — On Nov. 18, U.S. Forces Japan and Japan Self-Defense Forces aircraft performed a bilateral integration exercise. 4 U.S. F-16 fighters from Misawa Air Base and 4 Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15... MORE

Japan Self-Defense Forces and U.S. military begin biennial exercise Keen Sword 2023
November 9, 2022 — Units from the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and U.S. military have begun exercise Keen Sword 23 on November 10, 2022.Keen Sword is the latest in a series of joint and bilateral field training... MORE

U.S. and Japan Conduct Bilateral Air Exercise
November 5, 2022 — U.S. Indo-Pacific Command B-1 Lancer bombers and F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters conducted a bilateral exercise with Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2 aircraft on Nov. 5 (JST) to showcase deterrent... MORE

INDOPACOM Statement: U.S. and Japan Conduct Bilateral Exercise
October 4, 2022 — INDOPACOM Statement regarding U.S. and Japan bilateral exercise: Following the Democratic People's Republic of Korea’s ballistic missile launch over Japan on Oct. 4 (JST), U.S. Marine Corps fighters... MORE

Extension of Measures to Address Spread of COVID-19
January 21, 2022 — Due to the continuing increase of COVID-19 cases throughout Japan, and in the interest of maintaining high levels of mission readiness necessary for deterrence and fulfillment of Treaty obligations... MORE

U.S.-Japan Joint Committee Statement on Measures to Address the Spread of COVID-19
January 9, 2022 — The United States and Japan recognize and take seriously the severity of the rising number of COVID-19 cases throughout Japan. U.S. Forces, Japan (USFJ) and the Government of Japan (GOJ) are working... MORE

U.S. Forces Japan Increases to Health Protection Bravo
January 5, 2022 — Due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases at US installations and throughout Japan, Commander, United States Forces Japan has made the decision to raise the Health Protection Condition level from... MORE

Joint Press Release: Response to the issue on wastewater containing PFOS/PFOA at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
September 17, 2021 — The Government of Japan (GOJ) and the U. S. Government (USG) have been in discussion on the issue concerning the wastewater containing PFOS/PFOA at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma, including... MORE

Lt. Gen. Rupp Takes Command of U.S. Military in Japan
August 27, 2021 — U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Ricky N. Rupp assumed command of United States Forces Japan and 5th Air Force from Lt. Gen. Kevin B. Schneider here, Aug. 27.U.S. Navy Adm. John Aquilino, commander, U.S... MORE

Joint Press Release: United States Forces Japan’s effort to vaccinate local employees to combat COVID-19
June 10, 2021 — As USFJ has made great progress vaccinating its personnel, the GOJ and USFJ concurred, following bilateral consultations, including through the Joint Committee framework, that USFJ will start administering vaccine doses to local employees who wish to be vaccinated by USFJ... MORE

U.S. Forces Japan welcomed New Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo visit, Oct 8
October 7, 2020 — United States Forces Japan Office of Public Affairs provides the following readout from today’s meeting at Headquarters U.S Forces Japan between Defense Minister KISHI Nobuo and Commander of U.S. Forces Japan, Lieutenant General Kevin Schneider. Defense Minister Kishi today met with Lt. Gen. Schneider in advance of his visit to the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s Air Defense Command, also at Yokota Air Base. ... MORE

MCAS Iwakuni Statement: Family Failed to Abide by COVID-19 Policy
August 28, 2020 — Today, August 28, MCAS Iwakuni has debarred a family of four who failed to abide by the Japanese Quarantine Act, COVID-19 quarantine procedures and USFJ and MCAS Iwakuni orders. This debarment follows a misconduct hearing that took place on August 7... MORE

Defense Minister Taro Kono visits ADC, HQ USFJ at Yokota AB
August 22, 2020 — United States Forces Japan Office of Public Affairs provides the following readout from today’s office call at U.S Forces Japan Headquarters between Defense Minister Taro Kono and Commander of U.S. Forces Japan, Lieutenant General Kevin Schneider: Defense Minister Kono today met with Lt. Gen. Schneider following his visit to the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s Air Defense Command, also at Yokota Air Base... MORE

Recap from USFJ Press Conference
July 31, 2020 — The commander of United States Forces, Japan, Lt Gen Kevin B. Schneider, held the first-ever USFJ virtual press conference on July 29. This conference addressed USFJ’s on-going efforts to combat COVID-19 in Japan as well as security issues in the Indo-Pacific Region. The full conference can be viewed on the Defense Visual Information Distribution System here: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/761437/us-forces-japan-virtual-press-conference ... MORE

US-Japan Joint Statement on COVID-19
July 29, 2020 — The Government of Japan (GOJ) and United States Forces Japan (USFJ) have worked closely in our joint effort to combat COVID-19. The GOJ and USFJ are seriously concerned by the global pandemic and challenges posed to the health of the Japanese community as well as the personnel of USFJ. In recognition of the challenges posed by this pandemic, Lieutenant General Schneider, Commander of USFJ, has maintained the Public Health Emergency for USFJ since April. USFJ has implemented comprehensive and rigorous health protection policies, which are consistent with measures taken by the GOJ to combat COVID-19 and to alleviate local concern. Every time there are positive cases among USFJ personnel, both sides share necessary information between the respective health authorities and notify the local governments concerned. Both sides will continue to work together to ensure that such exchange of information will be done as expeditiously as possible... MORE

U.S. Forces Japan Directs Post-ROM COVID Testing for SOFA Members
July 24, 2020 — Yokota Air Base, Tokyo – To reduce the spread of COVID-19 cases among U.S. personnel following international travel, the Commander of U.S. Forces Japan yesterday directed all Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) personnel to undergo a COVID-19 exit test prior to release from the mandatory 14-day restriction of movement (ROM). The ROM policy applies to all SOFA-status personnel including military, civilians, families, and contractors, upon arrival in Japan... MORE

Readout of Visit to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni by Defense Minister Taro Kono
June 20, 2020 — United States Forces Japan Office of Public Affairs provides the following readout from today’s visit to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni by Minister of Defense Taro Kono: U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) and U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni (MCASI) hosted Defense Minister Taro Kono today during a visit to the Yamaguchi　prefecture. USFJ Deputy Commander, Brig. Gen. James Wellons, and MCASI Commander, Col. Lance Lewis, both U.S. Marine Corps officers, met the Minister and briefed him on a number of bilateral issues. ... MORE

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