Yokota welcomes Japan Minister of Defense
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Maj. Gen. Andrew O'Donnell Jr., United States Forces, Japan deputy commander shakes hands with Itsunori Onodera, Japanese Minister of Defense, before he takes off April 19, 2013, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Military leaders from U.S. Forces, Japan, 5th Air Force, the 374th Airlift Wing and the Japan Self-Defense Force greeted Onodera during a brief visit to Yokota. The Air Defense Council headquarters relocated to Yokota in 2012 to enable the U.S. Air Force and Japan Self-Defense Force alliance to have fewer barriers to effective communication and improve bilateral interoperability, contingency planning, training and cultural understanding. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree Economides)