FY 2008 Orientation Program for the United States Forces Japan

February 2, 2009
Japanese

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) is planning to host this year’s Orientation Program for the United States Forces Japan (USFJ) from the 3rd to the 6th of February, 2009.
The objective of this Orientation Program is to enhance the understanding of Japan by USFJ officers who have recently arrived in Japan. Approximately twenty officers from the components of the USFJ are expected to participate in the fourteenth Orientation Program this year.
The participants of the program will attend lectures on wide-ranging subjects such as Japanese politics, defense and security policy, and culture. They will also have discussion with MOFA officials, and take part in Japanese cultural programs.
Participants are expected to share what they have learned from the program to their respective units. Furthermore, because U.S. military officers sometimes return to Japan later in their career, this orientation can yield compound and long-term benefits over many years.
The increased understanding of Japan by U.S. personnel has important practical benefits. It can lead to involvement by American officers in activities to promote “good neighbor” relations with the citizens of local communities. It will also raise their level of awareness of safety concerns among the Japanese public. In sum, the Orientation Program will contribute to the smooth and effective operation of U.S.-Japan security arrangements and, ultimately, further development of the U.S.-Japan relationship.

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