A Japanese squadron, consisting of a training ship and two destroyers, will be visiting Malta between tomorrow and Tuesday as part of a world cruise lasting up to early November.

The aim is for the officers, who graduated from the Officer Candidate School of the Japan Maritime Self-defence Force, to acquire seamanship and promote friendly relations between Japan and the countries on their itinerary. The ships will also be visiting the United States, Panama, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Djibouti, Kenya and the Philippines.

The squadron, which is under the command of Rear-Admiral Hidetoshi Iwasaki, has 750 officers and enlisted men and 200 cadets, including 20 women.

The training ship, Kashima, and the destroyers TV Setoyuki and DD Asagiri will be opening their doors to the public on Monday from 10am to noon and from 1 to 4pm.

In the evening, the JTS Brass Band will give a public concert at the Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta from 7 to 8.30pm.

The last time the training squadron visited Malta was in August 2005.

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