In late August, as part of Operation HORIZON, His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Regina and Ottawa, alongside Naval Replenishment Unit (NRU) Asterix, concluded a port visit to Yokosuka, Japan.
Hosted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), the visit provided an opportunity to rest and resupply while strengthening ties with one of Canada’s closest Indo-Pacific partners.
The three Canadian ships were welcomed at Yokosuka Naval Base during a JMSDF-led ceremony attended by Commander Toru Sakaguchi, Commanding Officer of Japanese Ship Murasame, and Admiral Koji Yagi, Commandant of the JMSDF Yokosuka District. Gifts were exchanged between the Japanese hosts and the Canadian commanding officers, underscoring the strong relationship between the two navies.
Commander Darren Sleen, Commanding Officer of HMCS Regina and lead of the visiting Canadian Maritime Task Force, highlighted the importance of trust built through years of cooperation:
“Last month, while HMCS Regina was at Exercise Rim of the Pacific, I worked alongside JS Kongo in the world’s largest naval-air exercise. What we were doing was the same as when I first visited Yokosuka 20 years ago: building trust. The kind of trust that enables us to form strong partnerships capable of delivering operational effects.”
Canada and Japan are bound by a shared need for regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Now more than ever, it is crucial that like-minded nations, such as Japan and Canada, who believe fundamentally in a free and open Indo-Pacific, work together to promote security and stability.
Beyond operational engagement, the visit emphasized people-to-people connections. Sailors from the three ships participated in a cultural exchange at Yokosuka’s Suwa Primary School, where they met local students and families through games, activities, and discussions about Canadian and Japanese culture.
For Sailor 3rd Class Comfort Tsinkorang of HMCS Ottawa, the experience was especially meaningful.
“Being able to come together with our Allies and partner nations and build connections with people is not something you do every day. This was my first deployment, and it is an unforgettable memory that I will cherish.”
Crew members also joined local volunteers and U.S. Navy personnel in a community clean-up event throughout Yokosuka, further strengthening relationships with residents.
Following the visit, HMCS Regina continued its Operation HORIZON deployment, while HMCS Ottawa and NRU Asterix began their return to North American waters for Operation LATITUDE. Through engagements like these, Canada continues to strengthen partnerships that support peace, security, and stability across the Indo-Pacific.
