JAPANESE SOLDIERS STORM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BEACH: But this is 2020, not early 1942. That noted, the photo does indeed show a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force assault amphibious vehicle landing on a California beach –the beach at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The AAV is assigned to Japan’s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, which is participating in Exercise Iron Fist 2020. Iron Fist is an allied naval and marine exercise. The photo was taken Feb. 12. Here’s some background (from 2014) on Japan’s decision to form a “real” marine brigade and on Japan’s decision to acquire the U.S. AAV7 amphibious assault vehicle.