laststandonzombieisland

With the sakura about to bloom in Japan in the coming weeks, I thought this imagery was appropriate.

Official caption: Paratroopers from 陸上自衛隊 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s 1st Airborne Brigade (Narashino kūtei-dan) descend from United States Air Force C-130J Super Hercules aircraft over JGSDF East Fuji Maneuver Area, Japan, during “Airborne 23,’ Jan. 31, 2023. In all, some 300 JGSDF paratroopers performed a static-line jump to drop zones at the Higashi-Fuji training field, carried by planes operated by the 374th Airlift Wing’s 36th Airlift Squadron out of Yokota Air Base, showcasing the strategic importance of engaging in joint airborne operations.

The jump came just two weeks after the annual New Year’s Jump during which USAF, U.S. Army, British Army, Royal Australian army, and Japanese 1st ABN members conducted at Camp Narashino on 8 January.

As for the 36th Airlift, they are celebrating some 80 years in the paratrooper biz in 2023, having conducted airborne assaults on Sicily, Normandy, Holland, and Germany during World War II.