Lt. Gen. Francis J. Wiercinski, the commander of U.S.

Lt. Gen. Francis J. Wiercinski, the commander of U.S. Army Pacific, and Lt. Gen. Ryuichiro Arawaka, commander of Middle Army, Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force, shake hands after completing a mock bilateral press conference at Camp Itami, Japan, Feb. 4. Wiercinski and about 800 other U.S. service members are participating in Yama Sakura 61, a simulation-driven, joint-bilateral command post exercise held between the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force and the U.S. military annually in Japan. Yama Sakura is designed to enhance U.S. and Japan combat readiness and interoperability and strengthen military relationships. More than 3,500 JGSDF service members are also participating in Yama Sakura 61 which runs from Jan. 23 through Feb. 5.