【General meeting】 General meeting was started at 15:00, 60 regular members attended. All attendances silently prayed for late Mr.Katsuhiko Iwasaki (regular member) before meeting. After president Takegouchi thanked for attending general meeting to attendances, and he stated as opening speech as follows.
"JAAGA celebrated 10th anniversary foundation last year, we have past one big turning point. During past 10 years, we could have worked on to deepen mutual understanding and friendship between Japan Air Self-Defense Force and U.S. Air Force according to aim of JAAGA. I believe that many peoples gradually understand our activity, especially USAF members. Former commanders of U.S. Armed Forces in Japan (5th Air Force commanders) have talked about JAAGA's activity in each place in US, JAAGA honorary members warmly welcome JAAGA annual delegation to US, and the USAF commanders themselves have supported on our visiting to USAF bases. This is an evidence that our activity is recognized by many peoples. I think USAF doesn't always have many contact points in Japan, so we would be mediators to introduce them. This gets high evaluation of United States Armed Forces. I hope that you will discuss about JAAGA activity at this general meeting from viewpoint which I mentioned above".
After chairperson of general meeting declared that the meeting was materialized with number of participants and letter-of-attorney presenters, several important bills (activity report and statement of account of JFY2006, activity plan and budget of JFY2007) were deliberated and approved. Next, JAAGA regulation revision was proposed in order to match it to actual situation, and bill on 2007 JAAGA officers was introduced. These bills were also approved unanimously.
【Lecture】 We started the lecture at 16:30 for about one hour. Regular member, associate members and guests totally 190 persons attended. Lecturer was Lieutenant General Bruce Wright, commander of 5th Air Force, the theme of lecture was "Strengthening of interoperability between JASDF and USAF". Chairperson Tohtake introduced Lt.Gen Wright and explained his military career with his biography to audiense.
The lecture was about the Japan-U.S. security system , we heard it very interestingly. The content of lecture is due to be put on this homepage later on.
After lecture, we had question and answer time. Questions related on interoperability, secret preservation etc. were submitted by audiences, and Gen.Wright politely answered them with humor. Finally president Takegouchi expressed appreciation to Gen.Wright, and handed him memento.
【Receiption】 At 18:00, 2 hours reception was started, about 220 persons were present. Mr.Gen Nakaya (member of House of Representative), Mr.Takemasa Moriya (Vice minister of Defense(administrative)), Gen.Toshio Tabogami (Chief of Staff, JASDF), the representatives from attached organizations of Ministry of Defense, Air Staff Office and JASDF units joined. Also LTG.Wright and USAFJ members, Adm.Tadahiko Hurusawa (JANAFA vice president) and Gen.Suguru Sugiyama (president of Shinsei-Tsubasa-kai) and about 90 persons were invited as distinguished guest. This time we could invite General Hester (commander of PACAF) as special guest and chiefs of NCO from JASDF and USAFJ as guest.
President Takegouch had opening speech as host, outline of speech is " JAAGA had 10th anniversary last year, for this 10 years we have carried out many activities to deepen friendship and mutual understanding. These are all our handmade, and we have focused on much of the spot. As the result, our activity is understood and supported by many peoples. AFA (Air Force Association) is well-known to be Force Behind Force, JAAGA would like to support two air forces to improve their friendship with same spirit. We hope you to understand and support JAAGA activity."
Successively there were humorous speech by the distinguished guests, Mr.Moriya and Gen.Tabogami and Lt.Gen.Wright. Then Gen.Sugiyama strongly proposed a toast and .party was started. During this party, Mr.Gen Nakaya and General Hester made speech. We believe that all participants could enjoy the party. It was great success. （Reported by secretariat Minamoto)
