Marine Cpl. Silverio Delgadolopez climbs over a wall during the inaugural Garrison Games at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, July 10, 2025. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)

CAMP FUJI, Japan — U.S. Marines and Japanese soldiers leapt over walls, clambered along pipes and shimmied up ropes in an obstacle race to kick off the inaugural Garrison Games at the foot of Japan’s tallest mountain Thursday.

The games were dreamed up by leaders at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, southeast of Tokyo in Shizuoka prefecture, and five nearby Japan Ground Self-Defense Force garrisons to build camaraderie among their enlisted troops.

The event included a series of military skills and athletic competitions designed to test physical and mental endurance as well as unit cohesion and teamwork, said Camp Fuji’s commander, Col. Scott Welborn.

The goal of the games is to build mutual respect and camaraderie, he told Stars and Stripes, as Marines prepared to race across the obstacle course.

Organizers reminded the Marines and soldiers to drink plenty of water on a hot summer’s day.

Camp Fuji’s team, which included 20 Marines, found itself racing Japanese troops from the Fuji Schools team in their first race involving two laps of the obstacle course.

Marines and soldiers cheered loudly during the event, but it was soon evident the Americans would not be bested on home turf. They won by 90 seconds.

“I knew the Marines were good, but I was nervous until it started,” the Camp Fuji team’s captain, Gunnery Sgt. Michael Dillon, said after the race.

The Marines had only one practice run the day before, he said.

A trophy awaits the victors of the inaugural Garrison Games at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, July 10, 2025. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)

Marine Sgt. Ace Peralta climbs a rope during the obstacle course portion of the Garrison Games at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, July 10, 2025. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)

U.S. Marines and Japanese soldiers stand in formation before the inaugural Garrison Games at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, July 10, 2025. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ukrainian-born Marine Cpl. Kyryll Sakunov ran the sprint portion of the relay and showed his pace as he sped about 100 yards past the obstacles.

The young athlete said he was looking forward to playing soccer against the Japanese soldiers that afternoon.

Timekeeper for the event — Camp Fuji operations officer Maj. Enrique Harris — said the Marines share their nearby training area with the Japanese garrisons.

One of the Japanese racers — Master Sgt. Ryohei Ueda, from nearby Camp Itazuma — said he was impressed by the Marines’ strength.

Ueda said it was his first time on the obstacle course, which he had admired through the fence when he drove past Camp Fuji.

The best part of the course, Ueda said, was an obstacle involving pipes and logs suspended above the ground.

“I like training,” he said of the event. “I like to see someone who is trying their hardest.”

Other events included marksmanship on an indoor simulator, tug of war, a race by competitors carrying ammunition cans, crawling and sprinting and five-a-side soccer.

The games also included an event popular with Japanese schoolkids called Tamaire that involves throwing small balls through a hoop.

The Marines were declared winners at the end of the competition following strong efforts in the soccer and Tamaire. A large trophy awaited them on a nearby platform.

“It’s designed to have fun and link to military training and readiness,” Welborn said of the games, which could be held at a Japanese facility next year.

“This is the first one, but our vision is to make this a traveling event,” he said.