SENDAI--To show its gratitude to the U.S. military for its assistance in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Ground Self-Defense Force has changed the name of the main street in its Camp Sendai to “Tomodachi Avenue.”
SENDAI--To show its gratitude to the U.S. military for its assistance in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Ground Self-Defense Force has changed the name of the main street in its Camp Sendai to “Tomodachi Avenue.”
“Tomodachi” is Japanese for “friend.” A ceremony was held on Dec. 13 to commemorate the name change at the camp in Miyagino Ward here.
This change was done to show appreciation for the U.S. military’s massive Operation Tomodachi effort, launched to rescue and assist victims of the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami.
The Self-Defense Force’s Northeastern Army and troops from U.S. Army Pacific have been conducting a joint exercise from Dec. 1, and 170 soldiers from both militaries attended the ceremony.
Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski, commander of U.S. Army Pacific, said seeing the street each time would remind him of the U.S. military's friendship with Japan. The 500-meter-long main street had been previously named "Ichijo Avenue."