Updated: Dec. 6, 2024 at 12:36 PM

U.S., Japan, Australia participate in Yama Sakura 87 military exercise (8 images)

By Wade Sheridan

Service members from the United States, Japan and Australia took part in a joint military exercise known as Yama Sakura 87 at Camp Asaka in Tokyo on Friday. Yama Sakura 87 is a scenario-driven command post exercise to help build operational readiness and strengthen deployment capabilities among allied forces.

Left to right, Australian Army 1st Division commander Maj Gen. Ash Collingburn shakes hands with the commander-in-chief, Ground Component Command of Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Lt. Gen. Toshikazu Yamane and U.S. Army Pacific deputy commanding general Lt. Gen. Joel Vowell during the the opening ceremony of joint command post exercise Yama Sakura 87 at Camp Asaka in Tokyo on December 6, 2024. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI

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Vowell delivers a speech during the the opening ceremony. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI

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Members of Australia Army and Air Force, U.S. Army and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force stand listening to the speech. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI

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This marks the 44th iteration of the annual Japan-based exercise. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI

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