Col. Mark August, 374th Airlift Wing commander, and several friendship club presidents participate in the traditional breaking of the sake keg at a New Year's celebration hosted at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 26, 2013. Seven cities surrounding Yokota Air Base, including Fussa, Akiruno, Mizuho, Hamura, Musashimurayama, Ome, and Akashima, have established friendship clubs which partner with the base in order to exchange goodwill. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Jake Bailey)

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Capt. Haley Armstrong, band of the Pacific-Asia commander, conducts Pacific Showcase, Band of the Pacific-Asia jazz ensemble, during the United States national anthem at a New Year's event hosted at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 26, 2013. During the event, Pacific Showcase entertained guests with a short concert and accompanied Kin-yu-kai koto players during a bilateral performance of "Sakura." (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Josh Voyles)

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The Yokota Air Base Honor Guard posts the colors during a New Year's celebration hosted at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 26, 2013. The event reaffirmed U.S.-Japanese relations and was an opportunity to thank representatives from communities surrounding Yokota for their continued support and friendship. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Jake Bailey)

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Col. Mark August, 374th Airlift Wing commander, addresses an audience of representatives from communities surrounding the base during a New Year's celebration hosted at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 26, 2013. Col. August reaffirmed the importance of U.S.-Japanese relations and thanked local organizations for their support and friendship over the years. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Jake Bailey)

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Tadashi Takagi, president of the Ome-Yokota Friendship Club, delivers remarks during the a New Year's celebration hosted at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 26, 2013. Yokota hosted the event to help strengthen U.S. and Japanese relations throughout the local communities and to thank local organizations for their support during the year. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Jake Bailey)

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Col. Mark August, 374th Airlift Wing commander, and his wife, Kris, greet Chieko Nishikawa, a member of Akishima-Yokota Friendship Club, at a New Year's celebration hosted at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 26, 2013. Seven cities surrounding Yokota Air Base--including Fussa, Akiruno, Mizuho, Hamura, Musashimurayama, Ome, and Akashima--have established friendship clubs which partner with the base in order to exchange goodwill. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Jake Bailey)

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A member of the Japanese koto music group, Kin-yu-kai, performs during a New Year's event hosted at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 26, 2013. The koto players accompanied Band of the Pacific-Asia jazz ensemble Pacific Showcase for a bilateral performance of "Sakura." (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Josh Voyles)

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A member of the Japanese koto music group, Kin-yu-kai, performs during a New Year's celebration hosted at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 26, 2013. The event was an opportunity to reaffirm U.S.-Japanese relations and thank representatives from communities surrounding Yokota for their continued support and friendship. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Jake Bailey)

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A member of the Japanese koto music group, Kin-yu-kai, performs during a New Year's celebration hosted at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 26, 2013. During the event, koto players accompanied Band of the Pacifi-Asia jazz ensemble Pacific Showcase for a bilateral performance of "Sakura." (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Jake Bailey)

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New Year, lasting friendship

Published Jan. 29, 2013