25 October 2023
Australia is the first country invited to participate alongside Japan and the United States for Exercise Yama Sakura.
More than 200 ADF personnel will participate in the large-scale combat operations planning exercise in Japan in December.
The exercise will involve personnel from Headquarters 1st (Australian) Division practising their planning skills and interoperability with the United States Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF).
Australia has enjoyed observer status for more than a decade at Exercise Yama Sakura, which means mountain cherry blossom in Japanese.
At the conclusion of last year’s iteration, the Australian Army received an invitation to participate in this year’s exercise, reinforcing Australia’s special strategic partnership with Japan and strengthening Defence’s alliance with the United States.
Commander of Headquarters 1st (Australian) Division Major General Scott Winter said the ADF’s involvement in the exercise demonstrated Australia's commitment to an open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
“Not only is it an honour for the division to be invited as a participant in Yama Sakura, it also provides the Australian Army with an opportunity to practise large-scale combat operations while learning from our Japanese and United States counterparts,” Major General Winter said.
In early October, 37 Australian Army personnel took part in a week-long trilateral planning session at Camp Higashi Chitose for Yama Sakura, joining members of the Northern Army from the JGSDF and 11 Airborne Division from the United States Army.
Exercise Yama Sakura 85 is the largest iteration of the event ever staged and will involve around 230 members of the Australian Army, 1500 United States Army personnel and 4500 JGSDF personnel located across Japan and also Washington State in the United States.
