A former U.S. serviceman is offering recreational tours in the mountains and sea around a U.S. base in Yamaguchi Prefecture, with a goal of attracting military personnel there to learn about life outside the base and build ties with the local community.
Earlier this year, Edward Hosack, 40, organized a boat fishing tour in the Seto Inland Sea around Suo-Oshima, near U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. Five Americans with ties to the military participated.
"Oh, good-sized hamachi (yellowtail)!" exclaimed Devin Mackin, a 21-year-old Marine, during the tour.