Yama Sakura 91 comes to a close in Japan, demonstrating cohesive commitment to allies in the Pacific

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jackson Ricker | U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Matthew W. McFarlane, commanding general of I Corps, left, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Lt. Gen. Seiji Toriumi, commanding general of Western Army, center left, U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, center right, and JGSDF Gen. Masayoshi Arai, Chief of Staff for the JGSDF, observe bilateral operational capabilities during Exercise Yama Sakura 91 at JGSDF Camp Kengun, Kumamoto, Japan, Sept. 6, 2026. As a part of U.S. Army Pacific Operation Pathways, Yama Sakura 91 is the largest and most complex forward U.S. Army, Marine Corps. Australian and Japan Command Post exercise to date. Participants from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force train together with Soldiers of the U.S. Army I Corps, 11th Airborne Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Army Japan, U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard in a Joint environment. The goal of the exercise is to strengthen multi-domain and cross-domain interoperability and readiness between the U.S.-Japan alliance to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Jackson Ricker) (This photo has been altered for security purposes.)  

TOKYO, JAPAN

09.09.2026

Story by Master Sgt. Daniel Wetzel 

U.S. Army Japan

CAMP ASAKA, Japan – Yama Sakura 91 concluded Sept. 10, 2026, at Camp Asaka, Japan, as three nations completed the annual trilateral command post exercise. The United States, Japan and Australia spent the last two weeks working shoulder-to-shoulder to increase interoperability across the forces to maintain the security of the Pacific region.

Yama Sakura 91 included participants from U.S. Army Pacific, U.S. Army Japan, I Corps, 11th Airborne Division, 593rd Corps Sustainment Command, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Japan Ground Self Defense Force’s Ground Component Command, Training Evaluation Research and Development Command, Northern Army and Western Army, as well as the 1st (Australian) Division.

“This iteration of Yama Sakura marks a historic milestone. It has brought together Japanese, Australian, and U.S. Service Members, and we have demonstrated the strength of our trilateral alliance in a very real way,” said U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, commanding general of I Corps. “This deep collaboration reflects our growing commitment to regional stability and our collective resolve to face emerging challenges. We stand stronger together.”

Yama Sakura 91, held Sept. 2-10, took place across Japan, from the Island of Okinawa to military bases around Tokyo, Hokkaido, Kumamoto, and even included participants working at Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washington. The main objective of the 46th iteration of Yama Sakura was to enhance American, Australian and Japanese combat readiness and cohesiveness while strengthening trilateral and joint relationships, while demonstrating a shared resolve to support the security interests of allies and partners in the Pacific region.

“This is crucial in driving progress in our interoperability efforts: human, procedural and technical,” said McFarlane. “Yama Sakura allows us to get a large-scale training repetition and build trust across our people, members of the multinational force. It allows us to integrate systems that help us all see, sense and defeat threats as a joint or multinational force.”

As the largest Yama Sakura to date, more than 6,000 personnel from the three countries participated in the command post exercise, training to better understand each other’s tactics and procedures in the defense of Japan. “We worked to solidify joint coordination procedures that leverage the respective capabilities of the three nations,” said JGSDF Lt. Gen. Makoto Endo, commanding general of Japanese GCC. “This effort covered areas such as anti-landing operations, including targeting, sustainment, and joint counterattacks, and the protection of the civilian population. Through this process, we were able to deepen coordination procedures aligning the JGSDF’s Cross-Domain Operations (CDO), the U.S. Army’s Multi-Domain Operations (MDO), and the U.S. Marine Corps’ Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations.”

Since its inception in 1982, Yama Sakura has served as a vital platform for the U.S. and Japan to enhance their trilateral planning, coordination, and interoperability. With Australia participating for 5 years now, the exercise has evolved into a crucial trilateral forum, reinforcing a shared commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Through Yama Sakura 91, I Corps along with III MEF reinforced their dedication to building combat-credible partnerships, vital for deterring aggression and promoting stability alongside allies.

“On behalf of America’s First Corps, I offer my deepest gratitude to every participant who contributed to making Yama Sakura 91 an extraordinary success,” said McFarlane. “This exercise has been far more than a multinational training opportunity. It has been an integrated rehearsal that has allowed us to enhance our operational capabilities. It is a powerful testament to our enduring partnership, alliance, and friendship.”

The closing ceremony included a coin presentation to service members for their exemplary work and an exchange of mementos between leaders that signified a stronger bond and forces more capable and ready than ever before.

“We promoted mutual understanding and, I believe, succeeded in building even stronger bonds of trust,” Endo said in his concluding remarks.

• Date Taken: 09.09.2026
• Date Posted: 09.10.2026 02:23
• Story ID: 574243
• Location: TOKYO, JP