A New Arrival for American Mishima

We are pleased to announce the arrival of our 2nd child and first son of American Mishima author Louis Edward Rosas and wife Tina Rosas. Named in honor of his grandfather Luis who had served in Vietnam, he came into this world earlier this month weighing 7lbs 9 oz. We hope that he will grow big and strong and live up to the memory of his namesake to carry on the family name with honor. Sure, its a lot to ask of a little boy, but if we do our job right, he will have a great destiny ahead of him. Our little family could not be happier!

Welcome Luis-Makoto!

Japan Shops Heavy Lift C-2 Cargo Plane Overseas

 

Japanese Media reported that the JASDF is sending it's own C-2 Heavy Lift Cargo Plane to other countries to entice buyers for the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Tactical Air Lift contender. Japan had a ban on such sales that was lifted by the Abe government in 2014. They are sending this plane to an air show in Dubai and later to New Zealand. Such a sale would be Japan's first overseas arms contract in recent memory. The C-2 Airlifter has a crew of three including two pilots and one loadmaster. She boats a range of 9,800 km (5,300 nm) and a ceiling of 40,000 feet. While smaller than the C-17 Globemaster, she can still carry a Patriot (SAM) Missile Battery or a Mitsubishi H-60 Helicopter at a longer range than the older C-1. The plane is currently operated by the Japanese Air Defense Force.

Nagato's Flag Returned to Japan

After 72 years since the end of World War Two, the flag that once flew on the flagship of the Combined Fleet the IJN Nagato has been retruned home to Japan. This was once the flag of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto that was taken from the ship after Japan's unconditional surrender in 1945. The Nagato itself was later used as part of the fleet of ships at Bikini Atol after the war. The once proud ship was built so tough, it withstood two atomic bomb blasts before having to be sunk by torpeedo as seen in the photo below. 

Going back to Nagato's ensign, the flag had been in storage and was presented by the president and chief executive officer of the USS Missouri Memorial Association in Hawaii Machael Carr to the musuem dedicated to Admiral Yamamoto in his home city of Nagaoka Japan. NHK reported that the musuem cheif Satoshi Maruyama was moved by touching the flag. We at American Mishima appreciate this gesture of good will on the part of the USS Missouri Memorial Association. It is in our opinion, this is another long overdue another jesture of peace and closure to the Showa Era. May her spirit and the memory of the Nagato that carried her live on!