June 11 - Rear Admiral Shinichi Tokumaru visited my office last month to inform me about this year's 2010 Japan Training Squadron cruise. The Admiral will lead a round-the-world training voyage with a three-ship squadron composed of the JS Kashima, JS Yamagiri and JS Sawayuki. About 720 Japan Maritime Self Defense Forces and crew, including 190 newly commissioned officers, will participate in this five-month training cruise.

Admiral Tokumaru explained to me that the purpose of this cruise is to develop the newly commissioned officers' seamanship through training at sea. In addition, he hopes to expose them to foreign countries to cultivate their minds as future leaders of the Maritime Self Defense Forces. Finally, he wants to promote mutual understanding and good will with other countries through interaction with host navies and host country residents.

This training squadron already departed Harumi Pier in Tokyo on May 26, and it arrived in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on June 8. Next it will travel to my home state of California and then transit the Panama Canal and visit Baltimore on the east coast of the United States. The squadron will then travel to Europe, the Middle East, Indonesia, China and Korea before returning to Japan next October.

I was delighted to learn that the squadron will stop in my hometown of San Diego. I recall vividly when I was nine years old and my father took my sisters and me to tour a Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces ship that was visiting San Diego harbor. One of the Japanese sailors we met that day let my elder sister wear his hat, and we all felt quite proud as we posed for a photo together, even though we could not communicate with that sailor. I hope that the officers and crew of this year's training squadron will also have time to meet San Diegans and experience their warm hospitality.

Until next time,

Jim