Photo by Lance Cpl. Triton Lai - U.S. Marines and sailors from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni and local Japanese residents participate in the Iwakuni Friendship Relay Marathon in Iwakuni City, Dec. 1, 2019. The marathon was a 1.5km relay course around Go! Go! Field at Atago Hills Sports Complex. This annual event between MCAS Iwakuni and Iwakuni City is held to build comradery in the Iwakuni community and let the participants run in a friendly competition. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Triton Lai)

Another grand slam for team USA-Japan - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard Fuerst, the commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, gives a speech during a signing agreement ceremony at Kizuna Stadium in Iwakuni City, Japan, April 4, 2019. The ceremony confirmed the USA Softball Women’s National Team’s selection of Iwakuni City to host the team as they utilize the Kizuna Stadium Sports Complex as a training site for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The stadium is a joint use facility for local Japanese and MCAS Iwakuni residents. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

New friendships built through healthy exercise, friendly competition - Local Japanese residents participate in the Iwakuni Friendship Relay Marathon in Iwakuni City, Japan, Dec. 2, 2018. The event was a collaboration between Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and Iwakuni City organizations as a way to form new friendships through healthy exercise and friendly competition. Teams of 5-15 runners ran a 1.5km relay course around the new Go! Go! Field Stadium in Atago Hills Sports Complex for four hours and prizes were awarded to the top three teams with the most laps. There was also a costume contest. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

MCAS Iwakuni, Iwakuni City friendship runs deep - U.S. and Japanese children play dodgeball together in Iwakuni City, Japan, July 21, 2018. The Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau held a U.S.-Japan Sports Exchange to signify the opening of Go-Go Field to the public in an effort to deepen the bond between the residents surrounding MCAS Iwakuni and the U.S. forces in Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

"Bond" Stadium brings American, Japanese locals together - Distinguished guests from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni (MCAS) and Iwakuni City cut the ribbon for Kizuna Stadium during its grand opening in Iwakuni City, Japan, Nov. 4, 2017. The grand opening was celebrated with a round of thank-you speeches by MCAS Iwakuni and Iwakuni City officials, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and was highlighted by a friendly baseball game between American and Japanese high school students. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)