Online exchange events with JMSDF Kashima and Alaska officials
2021/9/17
On September 13, the commander and officer trainees of the training squadron vessel Kashima, who are visiting Alaska, held the following online exchange events with Alaska officials.
Rear Admiral Yoshiyasu Ishimaki paid a courtesy call on the Mayor of Unalaska and the Mayor of Nome online, together with Mr. Aniya and Mr. Weinert. At the meetings, Rear Admiral Ishimaki stated that the purpose of the training squadron visits to Alaska, Pearl Harbor, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, and Micronesia, is to broaden officer trainees’ international perspective, in addition to acquiring basic knowledge and skills necessary for unit work.
City of Unalaska Mayor Vincent Tutiakoff Sr. said that he hopes that this visit will encourage friendly exchanges between Japan and Alaska. City of Nome Mayor John Handeland read an official proclamation welcoming the Kashima to Nome. Mayor Handeland also said that despite the influence of COVID -19, it was fortunate to be able to meet Rear Admiral Ishimaki using online technology, and that all the citizens of Nome welcomed the Kashima’s visit.
In addition, all 110 Kashima officer trainees were briefed through an online lecture made by Dr. Rachel Mason, a Senior Anthropologist for the U.S. National Park Service, on the Battle of Attu Island, the real stories of victims, and the 75th anniversary commemorations in 2017 and 2018.
After that, the Kashima’s officer trainees heard an online lecture on basic matters such as Alaska’s politics and economy and Japan-Alaska relations from Mr. Aniya and Consul Takahashi.
Rear Admiral Yoshiyasu Ishimaki paid a courtesy call on the Mayor of Unalaska and the Mayor of Nome online, together with Mr. Aniya and Mr. Weinert. At the meetings, Rear Admiral Ishimaki stated that the purpose of the training squadron visits to Alaska, Pearl Harbor, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, and Micronesia, is to broaden officer trainees’ international perspective, in addition to acquiring basic knowledge and skills necessary for unit work.
City of Unalaska Mayor Vincent Tutiakoff Sr. said that he hopes that this visit will encourage friendly exchanges between Japan and Alaska. City of Nome Mayor John Handeland read an official proclamation welcoming the Kashima to Nome. Mayor Handeland also said that despite the influence of COVID -19, it was fortunate to be able to meet Rear Admiral Ishimaki using online technology, and that all the citizens of Nome welcomed the Kashima’s visit.
In addition, all 110 Kashima officer trainees were briefed through an online lecture made by Dr. Rachel Mason, a Senior Anthropologist for the U.S. National Park Service, on the Battle of Attu Island, the real stories of victims, and the 75th anniversary commemorations in 2017 and 2018.
After that, the Kashima’s officer trainees heard an online lecture on basic matters such as Alaska’s politics and economy and Japan-Alaska relations from Mr. Aniya and Consul Takahashi.