U.S. Army Japan’s headquarters recently hosted its own version of March Madness as American and Japanese junior high school players faced off for the first time on this base just outside Tokyo.

At Hanegi Park in Setagaya Ward, the annual plum blossom festival is underway, offering vibrant hues of pink, white and yellow amid a delightful fragrance. The event, which concludes in early March, marks the 46th season of celebrating ume in the area.

Kuma Cantina opened about six months ago in Tokyo and features a variety of traditional Mexican cuisine. The restaurant has a grown-up, nightlife vibe, but is still suitable for children.

On Japan Culture Day at Yokota Air Base, Japanese base workers shared their vibrant culture with their U.S. counterparts.

Lunch time is a delight at Kona’s Coffee, a Hawaiian pancake cafe in Tokorozawa city that has locations in Tokyo and throughout Japan. The eatery combines coffee, pancakes and a great Hawaiian dining experience, and the inviting smell of brewing java made from Kona coffee beans will be irresistible.

Cmdr. Daniel Ropp is exercising his artistic side with contributions to the Navy and local Japanese communities around Naval Air Facility Atsugi, finding joy in the impact his work has on others.

Nagatoro, a small, picturesque town in Chichibu city, features the hiker-friendly Mount Hodo and boasts plenty of other touristy activities to enjoy.

The Navy announced updates to its Fitness Enhancement Program, giving sailors who come up short on the service’s body composition assessment standards an incentive for passing the fitness phase with a score of excellent-low or higher.

Four teams intermingled with American and Japanese commissioned and noncommissioned officers faced each other during a full day of competition at Yokota Air Base’s Friendship Field.

Sizzler, a spacious family restaurant with an amply supplied, all-you-can-eat salad bar, occupies a spot in a part of Odaiba called Aqua City, an entertainment destination popular with locals and foreigners alike.