U.S. forces airlift drinking water to quake-hit Kumamoto

TOKYO - The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo said Monday that U.S. Forces Japan had airlifted drinking water to quake-hit Kumamoto Prefecture the previous day, with its ambassador saying the country responded to a request from "our closest friend and ally."

"In times of crisis or calamity, the United States and Japan have always come to each other's assistance," U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass was quoted as saying in a statement put out by the embassy.