Photo By Vanessa Jimenez | Approximately 12 performers navigate the haribote, or paper mache White Snakes, an...... read more read more
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IWAKUNI, Japan - Music filled the ears of all who visited the 55th Annual Iwakuni Festival Oct. 16. A brass band parade marched through the streets to the main stage announcing the beginning of the festival.
According to the event host, approximately 100,000 people permeated the streets of downtown to attend the festival, which was filled with live music, dancing, parades, vendors and food. Iwakuni City, Iwakuni Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Iwakuni Tourism Association hosted the festival.
To accommodate the festival, approximately 400 meters from Route 188 was closed to vehicle traffic. Yoshihiko Fukuda, Iwakuni City mayor, greeted visitors as he invited everyone to enjoy the various attractions the festival had to offer.
After the opening parade gathered at the main stage, a Tohoku product exhibition was assembled. The exhibition offered different food, clothing, souvenirs and art.
Stage performers flashed their colorful costumes and showed off their unique dance moves as music blared through the speakers.
The dance groups moved to the beats of hip hop or traditional Japanese music. Thirty-two groups performed, which included 500 dancers.
Twelve Marines and sailors with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 and Marine Aircraft Group 12 volunteered for the festival, donning a variety of different uniforms and gear. A tent was set up for the service members to shake hands and take pictures with the local community members. Members from the Japan Maritime Self- Defense Force set up a tent next to the Marines and sailors, also to spend time with the community.
“This is a great opportunity for the locals to exchange friendship with [the Marines and sailors],” said Fukuda. “I think it is wonderful to have the U.S. Marines here to share the same event together. I hope we can continue the good relationship as a good neighbor with the local residents, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Marines.”
Fukuda also added that he appreciated the participation of the service members and hopes to increase the opportunities for friendship exchange during community relations events. Cpl. Matthew Doyle, MALS-12 Consolidated Automatic Support System technician and community relations coordinator, attended the festival to have fun and interact with Japanese nationals.
“Being here interacting with the Japanese was extremely humbling,” said Doyle. “[The Japanese] are very gracious and kind people.”
A downtown park was changed into an area that offered a petting zoo, pony rides, magic shows and rides aboard a miniature train.
“Walking around I really felt like I could immerse myself in Japanese culture,” said Lance Cpl. Gerald C. Morales, a MALS-12 aviation precision measurement equipment technician. “What a great festival to showcase what this country has to offer.”
Performances were bountiful throughout the day, but as the afternoon crept up on visitors, they began to migrate to the main event of the festival, the parade.
The parade occupied the road with approximately 700 performers within 14 groups from Iwakuni City Hall, JMSDF and local businesses.
Crowds of visitors lined the streets. The performance of the Iwakuni’s White Snakes, an Iwakuni-oriented species and designated as a national treasure, attracted the crowds.
When the performers brought the beautifully decorated haribote snakes close enough, parade spectators reached out their hands to touch them.
The parade moved to the beat of taiko drums and the cheering from the visitors.
As the parade ended, the colors around downtown Iwakuni slowly dissolved as festival attendees made their way back to their homes leaving the echos of celebration in the streets of Iwakuni.
| Date Taken: | 10.16.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 10.19.2011 03:30 |
| Story ID: | 78698 |
| Location: | IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JP |
| Web Views: | 74 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Downtown Iwakuni taken over by food, color, laughter, by Vanessa Jimenez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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