Exercise brings Australia, Japan and United States closer together

Australia will join Japan and the United States as a participant in Exercise Yama Sakura 87 for the second consecutive year, enhancing our interoperability and mutual defence capability.

Around 300 ADF personnel, mostly from Headquarters 1st (Australian) Division in Brisbane, will take part in the exercise, a large-scale command post training exercise involving the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and members of the United States Army (US Army).

Exercise Yama Sakura, which means mountain cherry blossom in Japanese, was first held in 1982 to practise command and control of large-scale combat operations and improve interoperability, with Australia participating for the first time in 2023, after more than a decade as an observer.

Commander 1st (Australian) Division, Major General Ash Collingburn, said Australia’s participation enhanced interoperability and cooperation with some of our closest allies and partners.

“The 1st Australian Division continues to work with allies and partners on training exercises like Yama Sakura 87 to enhance interoperability in preparation for large-scale combat operations,” Major General Collingburn said.

“The exercise will further strengthen the Australia-Japan-US trilateral defence partnership and contribute to regional security, in support of a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.”

Exercise Yama Sakura 87 will involve around 300 members of the ADF, 1,500 US Army personnel and 5,000 JGSDF in locations across Japan, the US and Australia. 

Media note
Media can access imagery and vision of Exercise Yama Sakura 87 at: http://images.defence.gov.au/S20243446