Matthew C. Perry Elementary School student counsel members display Mikan fruit with Motoi Yoshimura, Yamaguchi Oshima Agricultural Cooperative Association president and Yoshihiko Fukudo, Iwakuni City mayor during the 2nd annual Mikan Exchange at the Sakura Theater here Dec. 15. A Mikan is a small fruit simialr to a tangerine. - Matthew C. Perry Elementary School student counsel members display Mikan fruit with Motoi Yoshimura, Yamaguchi Oshima Agricultural Cooperative Association president and Yoshihiko Fukudo, Iwakuni City mayor during the 2nd annual Mikan Exchange at the Sakura Theater here Dec. 15. A Mikan is a small fruit simialr to a tangerine.

Athletes pass IronWorks Gym here during their bike route for the 2011 Heat the Streets Duathlon that took place here Sunday. Participants were spread out across the grass in front of IronWorks Sunday morning before the race started, stretching out to prepare for the challenge ahead. The Duathlon is an annual event sponsored by Marine Corps Community Services Iwakuni to strengthen bonds between station residents and Japanese locals. Besides Friendship Day, the races MCCS Iwakuni sponsors are the best way to allow locals access to the station. Participants started the race in front of IronWorks Gym with a four kilometer run to Penny Lake fields and back on the seawall. Participants then changed over to their bikes inside the bike rack area for a 24-kilometer biking portion. The last part of the race had participants place their bikes back in the racks and run for another four kilometers from the seawall to Penny Lake fields, finishing in front of IronWorks. - Athletes pass IronWorks Gym here during their bike route for the 2011 Heat the Streets Duathlon that took place here Sunday. Participants were spread out across the grass in front of IronWorks Sunday morning before the race started, stretching out to prepare for the challenge ahead. The Duathlon is an annual event sponsored by Marine Corps Community Services Iwakuni to strengthen bonds between station residents and Japanese locals. Besides Friendship Day, the races MCCS Iwakuni sponsors are the best way to allow locals access to the station. Participants started the race in front of IronWorks Gym with a four kilometer run to Penny Lake fields and back on the seawall. Participants then changed over to their bikes inside the bike rack area for a 24-kilometer biking portion. The last part of the race had participants place their bikes back in the racks and run for another four kilometers from the seawall to Penny Lake fields, finishing in front of IronWorks.

Suehiro Kazuaki, a local motorcyclist who dressed as Santa Claus for the rally, leads the Japanese motorcyclist team during a friendly tug-of-war game with Marines during the 14th annual Toys for Tots Motorcycle Rally at the Strike Zone parking lot here Dec. 4. Nine uniformed Marine volunteers played tug-of-war and wrestled in sumo wrestler suits with some of the Japanese participants. - Suehiro Kazuaki, a local motorcyclist who dressed as Santa Claus for the rally, leads the Japanese motorcyclist team during a friendly tug-of-war game with Marines during the 14th annual Toys for Tots Motorcycle Rally at the Strike Zone parking lot here Dec. 4. Nine uniformed Marine volunteers played tug-of-war and wrestled in sumo wrestler suits with some of the Japanese participants.

Akibono Orphanage children sing the orpahanage’s school song to show their appreciation during an on-base visit at the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic here Saturday. The children spent the day making Christmas tree decorations, decorating cookies and singing classic Christmas songs. At the end of the event, Santa Claus came to visit the children. - Akibono Orphanage children sing the orpahanage’s school song to show their appreciation during an on-base visit at the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic here Saturday. The children spent the day making Christmas tree decorations, decorating cookies and singing classic Christmas songs. At the end of the event, Santa Claus came to visit the children.

A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force sailors snap into the prone position and aim down range while another JMSDF sailor holds a red flag in the air during rifle re-qualification and familiarization training at the Indoor Small Arms Range here Dec. 2. Red flags were used to notify the range coach who still had live rounds. - A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force sailors snap into the prone position and aim down range while another JMSDF sailor holds a red flag in the air during rifle re-qualification and familiarization training at the Indoor Small Arms Range here Dec. 2. Red flags were used to notify the range coach who still had live rounds.

An Iwakuni City Shirasaki Shrine priest walks to her seat during the purification and blessing of the Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport ground breaking ceremony here Nov. 25. The priests asked the Shinto God and local guardian spirits to bless and protect the construction workers as they build the new air terminal. - An Iwakuni City Shirasaki Shrine priest walks to her seat during the purification and blessing of the Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport ground breaking ceremony here Nov. 25. The priests asked the Shinto God and local guardian spirits to bless and protect the construction workers as they build the new air terminal.