A visitor checks out a C-17 Globemaster III during the Japanese-American Friendship Festival at Yokota Air Base is western Tokyo, May 17, 2025. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — More than 100,000 visitors shrugged off a rainy day and streamed through the gates of this airlift hub in western Tokyo over the weekend for the 49th annual Japanese-American Friendship Festival.
The two-day event featured aircraft displays, live performances and dozens of food and souvenir booths. Organizers said the open-base festival is intended to strengthen ties between service members and their Japanese hosts.
“We hope this festival will foster mutual understanding, deepen our friendship and unite our one community,” Col. Richard McElhaney, 374th Airlift Wing commander, told the crowd from the flightline after the kickoff.
Rain drenched Saturday morning but appeared to do little to deter attendance. Approximately 117,000 people visited over both days, the wing said by email Monday.
“I was pleasantly surprised at the massive number of people already running when we opened that front entrance right there,” said Maj. Matthew Helm, a project officer for the 459th Airlift Squadron.
Visitors wait to view a C-17 Globemaster III during the Japanese-American Friendship Festival at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, May 17, 2025. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)
An airman dresses up as a hot dog during the Japanese-American Friendship Festival at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, May 17, 2025. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)
Visitors line up to view a CV-22 Osprey during the Japanese-American Friendship Festival at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, May 17, 2025. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)
About 100 booths were set up across the flightline, with roughly 50 aircraft on static display, Helm said.
Guests lined up to purchase shirts, hoodies, patches, coins and other souvenirs from the many units and organizations that call Yokota home.
Weather was much better Sunday, when thousands more lined up to see and photograph C-130J Super Hercules airlifters, CV-22 Osprey special-operations tiltrotors, F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters and other aircraft.
Festival volunteer Monica Williamson sold umbrellas, tote bags and snow cones from her booth on Saturday.
“My favorite flavor is going to be the red, white and blue — the Americano,” she said of the frozen treat. “I hope everybody has a good time and everybody sells out.”
The Friendship Festival is one of the largest annual public events hosted by U.S. forces in Japan and has been a tradition since 1977.
A U.S. airman high-fives a visitor during the annual Japanese-American Friendship Festival at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, May 18, 2025. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)
