U.S. Marines, sailors and service members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force held a U.S. Marine Corps Mess Night together July 22, 2019 at Camp Fuji, Japan.

The event was put together to build a stronger alliance through a U.S. Marine Corps tradition.

“The basic idea of a mess night is to uphold traditions that we have in the Marine Corps, as far as camaraderie, remembering the fallen comrades, prisoners of war, and missing in action,” said Gunnery Sgt. Vincent Reynoso, the range operations staff noncommissioned officer in charge. “In tonight’s case, we are really strengthening our relationship with the Japanese by doing this together for the first time ever.”

The commanding officer of Takigahara Garrison, JGSDF Col. Yutaka Nakajima, sat next to U.S. Marine Corps Col. Michael D. Reilly, the commanding officer of Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, at the head table along with other U.S. and Japanese officials.

“I think it’s great to hold these kinds of events,” said Sgt. 1st Class Hochi, a rifle squad leader with the Training Evaluation Support Unit. “We live so close to each other and good neighbors, are the best neighbors.”

According to Reynoso, the U.S. and Japan militaries work very close together and plan to continue to strengthen the alliance.

“In my nine months here, I don't think there has been a month without two or three events that have allowed the U.S. and Japanese to work together, side by side,” said Reynoso.