Bilateral relations
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Private Ren Sugiyama, left, a 5th Infantry Regiment infantryman, and U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Andrew Layson, right, a 35th Security Forces Squadron installation entry controller, pause for a photo during Guard and Protect training at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 23, 2019. The exercise allows U.S. and Japanese units to work alongside each other and train together for real-world scenarios. Participating units included the 35th SFS, the JGSDF 9th Division’s 5th and 39th Infantry Regiments, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force 3rd Air Wing’s Security Division and Misawa AB’s 35th Civil Engineer Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Xiomara M. Martinez)