6th (Sat) Aug. '09 2:30PM - 11:45PM
Participant :
39 peoples, members of USFs of Misawa AB included their families
Outline of "Nebuta Festival"
JAAGA Misawa branch invited US military peoples and their families of Misawa AB to Aomori "Nebuta Festival" under supporting by Aomori City Government, Association of Aomori International Volunteer and other organizations. It is the second invitation this time for JAAGA. As negotiating result between representatives of USFsJ, supporting groups and us, we planned 30 participation at first. There was nine additional participation on that day, so became 39 participants in total. On the way to Aomori city, we contacted to supporting groups with cell phone in order to get additional 9 clothes of dance (Kimono). When we arrived at hotel where we changed clothes, 9 Kimono were additionally delivered and supporting peoples were waiting there. All participants changed clothes with supporting by volunteer peoples. The commander of USN Security Squadron and I handed cakes and fruits to supporting peoples as appreciation. After changing clothes, participants took pictures each others here and there. After having explained an attention matter for this festival, we were guided to festival place. All members were very surprised to see big and beautiful lanterns "Nebuta" ornaments, and they switched their mind to "Festival Mode" with hearing sound of drums and bamboo flutes. After local peoples kindly showed how to "Haneto" dance, they entered into dancing crowd. They intensely danced for 2 hours. At 9:00 PM, "Nebuta Festival 2005" was over with big firework signal. They enjoyed "Nebuta Festival" very much. Participants from Misawa AB were back to hotel to change clothes. Dancing Kimono they took off were very wet with sweat dripping. We were back to Misawa AB on 11:45 PM by bus. It's great success ! (Reported by Yamamoto, Misawa Branch)
