“Kintai” magazine receives first place plaque

Yukie Wada an editorial desktop publishing specialist with Communication Strategy and Operations (CommStrat), receives an award from U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Lyle Gilbert, the director of CommStrat, at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 21, 2019. Kintai magazine received the first 2018 Visual Information and Excellence in Communication first place Printed Publication Award from the United States Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association. Wada-san is the editor of the Kintai magazine, a quarterly publication created by MCAS Iwakuni CommStrat. (Photo by Pfc. Triton Lai)

By Pfc. Triton Lai
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan (July 10, 2019) – Kintai magazine was awarded the 2018 Visual Information and Excellence in Communication first place Printed Publication Award from the United States Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 21, 2019.

Yukie Wada, an editorial desktop publishing specialist and the Kintai editor with Communication Strategy and Operations (COMMSTRAT) at MCAS Iwakuni received this award on behalf of COMMSTRAT. The Kintai is a quarterly magazine created by COMMSTRAT that allows the Japanese community to see the active relationship between Japan and the United States.

“The Kintai is used to inform the local Japanese about Marines and Marine Corps AirStation Iwakuni,” said Wada. “I want Marines to remember that people are looking at what they are doing, and Japanese people really appreciate what they are doing, so please continue to be good because Iwakuni has a very good history between the Japanese and Marines.”

Wada works with the Marines of MCAS Iwakuni’s COMMSTRAT team creating Kintai magazine. Combat photographers and combat mass communicators write stories and take photographs which highlight the relations between U.S. service members and the host nation.

Once Marines create a product, Wada translates it into Japanese and creates a layout for the magazine.

Eight years ago, during her spare time, Wada took it upon herself to create Kintai magazine, which acts as a bridge between differences in languages, highlights service members interactions with the community and helps the local community in Iwakuni City better understand the air station.

“Wada-san is the one that puts everything together for the Kintai,” said U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Phillip Parker, the deputy director of COMMSTRAT. “She compiles everyone’s articles, photos and designs it in a way that is aesthetically pleasing. She is the reason that Kintai is successful and such a great publication.”

Being informative and building the relations between the U.S. and Japan is what Kintai magazine does, and is the reason it was 2018’s best print publication across the entire Marine Corps. The recognition that the Kintai received highlighted not only the capabilities of the editor, but MCAS Iwakuni as a key player in the U.S.-Japan Alliance.

“We encourage our English and Japanese speakers to pick up a copy of the Kintai,” said Wada. “It can be found at either the main gate, the JR train station, Iwakuni libraries or Iwakuni City Hall if you would like a copy to learn more about the magazine as a bridge between two cultures.”