MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- The month of June includes four local events offering attendees opportunities to continue building partnerships among their Japanese neighbors.
Acacia Festival in Kosaka Town
Date: Saturday, June 8, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, June 9, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Chuo Koen in Kosaka Town (GPS: 40.326764, 140.743723)
Kosaka Town attaches to Lake Towada and is considered a popular place where 300 thousand acacia trees grow. The event features taiko drumming, a shamisen live show, musical and artistic performances.
Dog Festival “Paw paw party 2019”
Date: Sunday, June 9, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Misawa Citizens Forest Park (GPS: 40.734340, 141.365299)
The event features a dog dance at 10:30 a.m., fashion show at 11:30 a.m., dog yoga at 12 p.m. and a quiz at 2 p.m.
American Day
Date: Sunday, June 23, 9:45 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Various Misawa City locations; to include: Main Street, Misawa Civic Center, Misawa Central Park, Misawa Gymnasium, and Misawa Air Base.
Misawa City first held American Day in 1989 as a token of appreciation for its corresponding festival, Japan Day. A Harley parade will kick-off the event, and thee event will also feature a haunted house, vehicle static display, American food booths outside Friendship gate and Japanese food booths on Misawa City Hall Street.
Shinmei-gu Shrine Chinowa Festival
Date: Saturday, June 30, starting at 6 p.m. to Sunday, July 1.
Location: 26-1 Nijyurokunichimachi, Hachinohe City (GPS: 40.506682, 141.486171)
A Chinowa is a large wheel made of thatch, placed in front of the shrine. People visit the shrine and pass under the Chinowa starting at 12 a.m. and pray for good health and warding off bad luck. You can start passing through the Chinowa, July 1, midnight. Shrine keepers play sacred music, called “Kagura”. Dancers perform on the eve of the festival on June 30.