Subic Bay Freeport – A Japanese destroyer docked at this Freeport on Wednesday as part of a goodwill visit by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

According to the Philippine Navy’s (PN) Philippine Fleet (PF), the Japanese destroyer JS Harusame (DD102) arrived at the Naval Operating Base here for a four-day goodwill visit aimed at strengthening navy-to-navy ties with the JMSDF.

The visit began with arrival honors for JS Harusame (DD102), skippered by Commander Makoto Ozawa, as it made port at Naval Operating Base–Subic, Zambales. The visit follows the recent official trip of a PF delegation to Yokosuka, Japan, led by PF Commander Rear Admiral Joe Anthony C. Orbe PN.

Subsequently, Cdr. Ozawa, along with Assistant Defense Attaché Cdr. Kawahata Noriyuki and two other JMSDF officers, paid a courtesy call on the PF Commander.

During the call, both navies discussed the PF Commander’s engagement in August and his recent visit to Yokosuka, Japan, in preparation for the official PF and JMSDF Staff-to-Staff Talks to be held in the Philippines.

The PF Commander also assured the visiting JMSDF delegates of the Fleet’s readiness to provide any assistance they may require, while both sides exchanged insights from their experiences as ship commanding officers.

As part of the visit, a shipboard tour of the JMSDF destroyer by the PF Commander and his staff was conducted, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the vessel’s equipment and technology, while also promoting knowledge-sharing and enhancing mutual appreciation of each other’s maritime assets and operational procedures.

The visit will conclude with a send-off ceremony on November 29, 2025, marking the completion of the goodwill visit and reaffirming the enduring ties between the PN and the JMSDF.

This visit underscores the continued efforts to strengthen maritime cooperation and foster stronger ties between the PN and the JMSDF. It reaffirms the shared commitment of both nations to enhance professional expertise, operational interoperability, and bilateral trust, supporting the shared goal of a secure and stable maritime environment.