Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, left, poses for a photo with Seikyu Iju, the mayor of Higashi village at the conclusion of the Northern Training Area Land Return Ceremony Dec. 22 in Nago City, Okinawa, Japan. The ceremony honored the return of more than 9,852 acres of land from Forces Japan that was previously utilized as part of the Northern Training Area. The land return marks the largest land return since 1972. During the ceremony, government representatives from the Japan and the United States gave remarks regarding the return of the land and the importance of the

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Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, left, poses for a photo with Seikyu Iju, the mayor of Higashi village at the conclusion of the Northern Training Area Land Return Ceremony Dec. 22 in Nago City, Okinawa, Japan. The ceremony honored the return of more than 9,852 acres of land from Forces Japan that was previously utilized as part of the Northern Training Area. The land return marks the largest land return since 1972. During the ceremony, government representatives from the Japan and the United States gave remarks regarding the return of the land and the importance of the alliance.

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