NAF Atsugi celebrates cultural day

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Kegan Kay | Mayra Wilson, right, tries her hand at Shodou (calligraphy) during a cultural fair held at Naval Air Facility Atsugi's Hasley Gym. The event was held in honor of the Japanese culture holiday, Bunka no Hi, and gave sailors the opportunity to get hands on experience with traditional Japanese crafts, music and martial arts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kegan E. Kay/Released)  

NAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI, JAPAN

11.02.2013

Courtesy Story

Naval Air Facility Atsugi

NAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI, Japan – In honor of Bunka no Hi, a Japanese culture holiday, Naval Air Facility Atsugi’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation held a cultural fair Nov. 2 at Halsey Gym.

Bunka no Hi gives Japanese people a chance to celebrate and promote their traditional arts and academic pursuits.

The fair provided Sailors and their families the opportunity to try various traditional arts like Ikebana (flower arrangement) and Chigiri-e (art made from torn colored paper).

“Everything here is made to be hands on,” said Lt. Marshall Hoffman, who attended the fair. “It is an exhibition of many different types of Japanese traditions all in one place, and you can see experts in these areas do what they do best and get a chance to try it on your own.”

NAF Atsugi community members were invited to try Shodou (calligraphy), decorate a box using washi paper or Oshie (Japanese raised cloth/paper picture) and were able to take home their finished pieces.

"My goal is just to enlighten the service members as to what Japan is as far as cultural things," said MWR Community Activities Director Ron Murashige. "Culture is just a small portion of what Japan is all about.”

The event also featured a Judo demonstration by the NAF Atsugi Judo Club, a Jujitsu demonstration by Daito ryu Aiki and several musical performances with traditional instruments like the Taiko (drum), Shakuhachi (bamboo flute) and the Shamisen or Sangen (three string lute).

“We love to share our knowledge of martial arts,” said NAF Atsugi Judo Club Instructor Assistant Joshua Mumford.

The exhibits at the fair also showcased many of the free classes offered by MWR, giving NAF Atsugi residents a chance to learn more about their host nation’s culture.

“This is our first time to hold this fair,” said Murashige. “It is a good opportunity to see the rich culture Japan actually has that has been handed down generation after generation.”

• Date Taken: 11.02.2013
• Date Posted: 11.04.2013 01:58
• Story ID: 116229
• Location: NAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI, JP