Cherry Blossom Festival brings Camp Zama community together while fostering sense of camaraderie

Photo By Noriko Kudo | Soldiers assigned to the 88th Military Police Company pose for a photo while on patrol at the Cherry Blossom Festival held March 28 on Camp Zama, Japan.  

ZAMA, KANAGAWA, JAPAN

04.02.2026

Story by Noriko Kudo 

U.S. Army Garrison - Japan

CAMP ZAMA, Japan – The more than 1,000 cherry blossom trees here reached full bloom at just the right moment. But for Staff Sgt. Joseph Renfro, the installation’s cultural festival, named for the iconic pink and white flowers, was about more than just the scenery; it was about the people.

Renfro, assigned to the 5th Transportation Company, 765th Transportation (Terminal) Battalion, was mostly focused on the energy of the crowd. Stepping onto Yano Field, the hub for the festivities, on March 28, the change of pace was exactly what he needed, Renfro said.

“I just wanted to be with friends and the rest of the unit and support the festival going on here and then enjoy the festivities,” he said. “I think it’s awesome for everyone to get time to take a break and relax and enjoy some time together.”

Renfro said he was excited to sample the refreshments, listen to music, and even have some messy fun at a “pie in the face” booth.

“It’s a perfect atmosphere,” Randy Benton,the special events coordinator assigned to Camp Zama’s Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation said, adding that musical performance from the 721st Army Band with the Guam National Guard helped to further liven up the event.

Benton said he knew from his nearly 40 years of service at Camp Zama that the blooming of the cherry blossoms signaled not just a change in the weather, but also a signal that the entire Camp Zama community was coming alive.

Benton said his top priority was to provide the local community, the Soldiers, their families, and the host-nation employees who support the installation every day an opportunity to take a break and enjoy the festival. He also expressed his gratitude to the U.S. Army Garrison Japan employees and MWR staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the event possible.

• Date Taken: 04.02.2026
• Date Posted: 04.02.2026 03:27
• Story ID: 561797
• Location: ZAMA, KANAGAWA, JP