In "A" school we had like 40 people in my class, I scored 8th. so all the orders on the wall I was 8th. to choose whatever was left on the wall, of course Hawaii had two spots and went first. Most guys wanted to pick West Virginia, but when it came to choosing, they all picked Long Beach, or San Diego. NO ONE wants to be stuck in Guam. I chose Yokosuka because I was 17 years old, no kids no wife, and wanted to see the world on a aircraft carrier.
It was a dream of mine for several years to go to Japan with the US Navy but I'm already past the age limit now (34) so it will always be just a dream. Doesn't mean I won't go back to Japan someday. It just can't be with the Navy. They wouldn't take me because of a prior discharge from the Army.
One nice thing about doing sea duty in Japan is that the deployments are much shorter. That whole not having to cross the Pacific means there's no need to be out as long.