Japan Minister of Defense highlights bilateral capabilities at Yokota

  • Published
  • By Army Sgt. Karl V. Williams
  • Joint Support Force Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa visited Yokota Air Base April 23 to observe the capabilities of the Japanese Central Readiness Force and the U.S. military's Chemical Biological Incident Response Force.

This was the first visit to Yokota AB by a Japan Defense Minister since the Ministry of Defense was established in 2007.

The American CBIRF team arrived last month due to concerns about the Fukushima Nuclear Plant and remained on standby in the event Japanese officials requested their assistance. The 150-member team took advantage of their opportunity in country and conducted numerous sessions to advise and assist the Japan Self Defense Forces, which was on display today for Kitazawa's visit.

"The advance skill sets demonstrated by both the American and Japanese teams was very impressive and encouraging," said Minister Kitazawa. "I'd like to express my deepest appreciation for [our] friendship with the United States, which dispatched its treasured elite team to aid Japan."

Minister Kitazawa also took the opportunity to express his appreciation for the overall assistance the Joint Support Force has provided following the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan March 11.

"Thanks to the United States great contributions, the situation at the Fukushima Nuclear Plant is static. I am fully convinced that your posture continues to give Japanese people a great sense of security as we start the reconstruction process," said Minister Kitazawa.

More than 20,000 United States servicemembers have been working jointly with Japan Self Defense Forces, at the request of the Japanese government, in support of Operation Tomodachi.

Commander Joint Support Force and U.S. Forces Japan commander, Lt. Gen. Burton Field, also praised the CRF and CBIRF units for their hard work.

"The soldiers of the CRF and the Marines and sailors of the CBIRF have put on a remarkable display of lifesaving capability while demonstrating the unique abilities they possess," said General Field. "More importantly, thank you for all the hard work, coordination and planning you've done together over the last several weeks."

General Field said that he was honored to have the Japanese defense minister here to witness the bilateral demonstration of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidence response.

"Your presence is a testament to the level of importance this training and capability holds for the continued safety of the people of Japan," said the general.