NAGOYA, Japan - The guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) pulled into Nagoya Sept. 4 providing its Sailors the opportunity to tour cultural sites and interact with the local community.

Crewmembers will also participate in a community service project at the Holy Angeles Orphanage where they will assist with a clean-up of the grounds and socialize with the children.

"It is my pleasure and honor to be in Nagoya today," said Cmdr. Nicole Shue, Higgins' commanding officer, in a welcome address to the city of Nagoya. "My crew and I have been looking forward to this visit for some time now, and we are all very happy to be here. I am looking forward to enjoying some of your great Nagoya cuisine, especially, the famous miso-katsu. I also want to take some uirou with me when we go back out to sea."

The visit to Nagoya celebrates the long-standing relationship between the United States and Japan established by the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the signing of that document.

"Visiting Nagoya provides our Sailors with the opportunity to appreciate the Japanese culture and to see firsthand the people they are sworn to defend through our security treaty," said Shue.

Higgins, homeported in San Diego, Calif., is currently deployed to the 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region.