Since the establishment of U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) on July 1, 1957, the U.S.-Japan Alliance has continued to develop for over half a century. Through numerous cooperative efforts, most notably "Operation Tomodachi" following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the bond between the USFJ and the Japan Self-Defense Forces has grown ever deeper. This robust partnership serves as a firm foundation for safeguarding the free and open Indo-Pacific.