20th Annual Japan Day schedule of events

  • Published
  • By Capt Donna Friedline [donna.friedline@misawa.af.mil]
  • 35th Medical Operations Support Squadron
The 20th Annual Japan Day celebration is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 7 at the Edgren High School. Misawa Air Base community is invited to come out and experience Japanese culture first hand. Events planned include something for everyone. There will be cultural displays, hands-on demonstrations, live musicals, and theatrical demonstrations. Close to 100 Japanese artisans will be displaying their talents in many of Japan's cultural crafts.

The event is sponsored by the Misawa International Club and is free of charge to the Misawa Air Base community. Japan Day represents an unique opportunity for Misawa residents to experience Japanese culture. 

Refreshments such as sushi, curry and rice, cold drinks and local food will be served in the lunch room throughout the day. 

The following are the schedule of events:

Festival stage part 1, in the new gym
9:50 a.m. -- Welcome drum music by Makibano Kid Drummers
10 a.m. -- Opening ceremony featuring the Suijun Thunder Drummers
10:03 a.m. -- Opening remarks by Col. Terrence O'Shaughnessy, 35th Fighter Wing commander
10:08 a.m. -- Opening remarks by Misawa City Mayor Shigeyoshi Suzuki
10:13 a.m. -- Ribbon cutting ceremony
10:20 a.m. -- Music and dancing performed by Okamisawa
10:30 a.m. -- Makibano Kid Drummers performance
10:45 a.m. -- Music and dancing performed by Okamisawa
11 a.m. -- Kabuki play and dancing performance
11:15 a.m. -- Yosakoi Soran dancing performance
11:30 a.m. -- Nanbu local dancing performance
11: 45 a.m. -- Taisho Koto music performance
Noon Japanese traditional dancing performance

Festival stage part two, in the Music Room, Room 23
1 p.m. -- Koto music
1:15 p.m. -- Chinese poetry singing
1:30 p.m. -- Folk songs and dancing
1:45 p.m. -- Kimono fashion show
2 p.m. -- Suijin Thunder Drum music
2 p.m. -- Sports, Kenmai dancing and Iai sword fighting demonstrations
2: 15 p.m. -- Kendo demonstrations
2:45 p.m. -- Karate demonstrations
3:15 p.m. -- Judo demonstrations

Cultural exhibits will be displayed in the following rooms:
Room 1 -- Menko Noh mask making
Room 2 -- Kogin embroidery
Room 3 -- Misawa City guide
Room 4 -- Misawa bonsai club
Room 5 -- Rokunohe pressed flower art
Room 6 -- Japanese language and cultural facts
Room 9 -- Takahiro Washi doll making
Room 11 -- Michinoku Chinese poetry singing
Room 14 -- Calligraphy club
Room 28 -- Yosakoi Soran dancing class
Room 29 -- Kenbu dancing
Room 30 -- Gonohe kite picture making
Room 216 -- Sakurada armor display
Room 234 -- Senchado tea ceremony
Room 236 -- Miss Veedol paper plane making
Library  -- Nkaguki kimono wearing
Room 301 -- Misawa Bokuga brush painting
Room 302 -- Braid and ceremonial string art
Room 303 -- Ohara flower arranging
Room 304 -- Taigaku calligraphy class
Room 305 -- Sand art
Room 312 -- Pottery making

For more information, call Capt. Mischa Johnson at 226-6018.