KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Minister of Defense, Mr. Gen Nakatani, Ministry of Defense, visited the 18th Wing on June 23, 2025, to learn more about the support Okinawa-based forces provide to the broader Pacific theater.
The visit provided an opportunity for U.S. Air Force leaders and the Japanese Ministry of Defense to strengthen bilateral ties by discussing enhanced training efforts, operational integration and regional security cooperation.
The 18th Wing leadership team hosted the tour, which included a mission briefing led by U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans, 18th Wing commander. During the briefing, Evans and Nakatani discussed Kadena’s diverse mission set and its role in the defense of Japan, as well as the wing’s ongoing efforts to minimize operational impacts on the local community.
“Every day, service members across Kadena train alongside their Japanese counterparts to deter regional aggression, assure allies and partners, and, if necessary, defend Japan,” Evans said.
The tour also included a visit to the Kadena flight line, highlighting aircraft such as the KC-135 Stratotanker and rotational fighters, including the F-35, showcasing the base’s deterrence capabilities.
“I am thankful that I was able to visit Kadena Air Base today,” Nakatani said. “I am happy with the 18th Wing‘s engagement with the local communities to build trust, explaining the local leaders on your efforts to mitigate impacts while remaining ready to support the U.S.-Japan alliance. The alliance remains vital to ensuring peace in this region, and Kadena is a critical part of that alliance.”
Nakatani’s visit underscored the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance and reinforced a shared commitment to peace and stability through continued cooperation and mutual understanding.