Photos by Yoshihito Morita ()
Misawa Air Base and the local community gathered on April 8 for Japan Day, an annual event to share traditional Japanese heritage.
The event at the Misawa Club was organized by the Misawa International Club and Misawa Air Base leadership.
Japan Day is a great way for Japanese and American families in the community to mingle and learn about Japanese culture. Many attendees wore kimono, adding color and cheer to the festivities, which made the event site very colorful and international, according to Yoshihito Morita of Misawa Commissary.
“Children in colorful kimono looked very cute!” Morita added.
The event featured traditional music and dances like the shishimai lion dance, kagura sacred Shinto music, koto Japanese harp and wadaiko drums. There was also a kimono fashion show, karate demonstration and samurai armor displays.
Outside, vendors were selling food like yakitori and ramen. Crafts and souvenirs like handmade flower vases. Visitors were allowed to ride on jinrikisha traditional Japanese rickshaws for photos.
“I was surprised to see so many Japanese and American people attending the event this year,” Morita said. “They were probably looking forward to this fun event for a long time.”
Japan Day is an annual tradition established in 1988 to uphold the strong tradition of sharing cultures and blending the Misawa on-base and off-base communities.
More information about the Misawa International Club: http://misawajp.com/ejd.html
