Team Misawa lights Japanese community with holiday spirit

Photo By Staff Sgt. Sadie Colbert | Riku Sasaki, left, and Shunya Sasaki, 18th Annual Holiday Lights Tour attendees, pause for a photo at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 16, 2017. During the event, Team Misawa bussed local community members around the base to view lights displayed by base housing residents and ended with refreshments and games. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sadie Colbert)  

MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JAPAN

12.20.2017

Story by Senior Airman Sadie Colbert 

35th Fighter Wing

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --
The 35th Fighter Wing hosted the 18th Annual Holiday Lights Tour Dec. 16.

Approximately 350 local Japanese toured Misawa’s housing areas to witness base residents' lights displays then experienced a festive ending at Sollars Elementary School.

“My family enjoyed the event,” said Hazuki Satou, an 18th Annual Holidays Lights Tour attendee. “It was such a pleasant and happy feeling with all the activities and festivities provided to the children.”

Japanese nationals and their children shared cookies, warm apple cider and hot chocolate with their American counterparts, growing and bonding with each other despite language barriers.

Sharing traditions and breaking barriers through boughs of holly, Misawa AB continues to bring the community closer together with the help of host-nation friends.

• Date Taken: 12.20.2017
• Date Posted: 03.06.2018 22:07
• Story ID: 268385
• Location: MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JP