MISAWA CITY, Japan -- Misawa City and Misawa Air Base kids competed in the 6th Misawa Ice Hockey Exhibition Jan. 27, bringing together six- to eleven-year-olds to celebrate the U.S.-Japan partnership in friendly competition.
To kick off the event, Mr. Fukusawa, the Tohoku Defense Bureau chief, Misawa City Mayor Taneichi, and U.S. Air Force Col. R. Scott Jobe, the 35th Fighter Wing commander, offered opening remarks, noting the strong relationship between the city and the base and their hopes for a prosperous New Year.
Following opening remarks, the kids geared up with equipment shaped like Misawa’s local produce. The garlic clove-shaped helmets, yam-like hockey sticks and clam-my pucks showcased the local economy and reinforced the community’s commitment to “co-prosperity and co-existence” among both Japanese and Americans.
The kids then battled it out on the rink by age group, playing in several matches against their international counterparts throughout the day.