KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Mr. Masaru Murai, Okinawa Defense Bureau director general, met with Brig. Gen. John Gallemore, 18th Wing commander, and other 18th Wing leadership Sept. 11, 2025, to familiarize himself with Kadena Air Base and introduce himself as the primary bridge between the Government of Japan, U.S. Forces and local communities.
The ODB is the Japan Ministry of Defense’s local office on Okinawa, tasked with conducting liaison activities with the U.S. military, strengthening the foundation of the U.S.-Japan alliance. In addition, they support several efforts to mitigate effects on Okinawan residents including the continued execution of the U.S.-Japan Roadmap for Realignment Implementation which incorporates land returns and troop deployment reviews, in order to reduce the impact on local communities while maintaining deterrence.
During the event, Gallemore led Murai on a flightline tour where he emphasized the importance of positioning more versatile, resilient, and mobile forces at the forefront of the Indo-Pacific theater while they viewed Kadena’s wide variety of permanent and transient aircraft including F-15E Strike Eagle, and MQ-9 Reaper static displays.
“I am thankful that I was able to visit Kadena Air Base today,” said Murai. “I would like to express my respect and gratitude to you for your deep devotion to the mission here in Japan while also taking the utmost consideration of the impacts on local communities. The alliance remains vital to ensuring peace in this region, and Kadena is a critical part of that alliance."
While the stable stationing of U.S. Forces in Japan is the linchpin of bilateral security arrangements between the U.S and Japan, both parties recognize the importance of mitigating the impact on residents living in the vicinity and 18th Wing leadership and ODB make bilateral efforts to gain local communities’ understanding and support regarding the stationing of U.S. Forces.
“Developing open lines of communication between the 18th Wing and ODB is essential to maintaining a positive relationship with host-nation communities,” said Gallemore.“Director General Murai ensures what happens on and around Kadena is told transparently with information that is forthright, and his staff work diligently to make sure our two countries are doing the very best to contribute to our alliance.”
Concluding the meeting, Murai bid farewell to the 18th Wing leadership team and departed with an increased personal awareness of the capabilities and importance of Kadena and the service members committed to delivering unmatched combat airpower, discouraging aggression in the Pacific.
This event is one of many that demonstrates the solidarity of the Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements and how necessary enhancing the deterrence, and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance is not only for the peace and security of Japan, but also for the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.