Yokota Airmen participate in Japanese star festival

  • Published
  • By Airman John D. Partlow
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  The streets in Fussa City, Japan, were filled with local citizens, U.S. servicemembers from Yokota Air Base and the sound of music Aug. 4-7 in celebration of the 61st annual Fussa Tanabata Festival.

Ikuo Kato, Fussa City mayor, dedicated this year's the festival to the victims of the March 11 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck the northern coast of Japan.

Airmen from Yokota were invited to participate in the festival's opening parade during which, more than 30 servicemembers helped carry a Mikoshi Shrine, a portable shrine said to carry the god of the Shinmeisha Shrine. The parade route took the participants from the Shinmeisha Shrine to Fussa's City Hall and is meant to bring good luck and health to the town people.

"What we're doing is building our relationship with our Japanese host nation," said Staff Sgt. Fernando Delgado, a member of the 374th Contracting Squadron. "We're showing our support for the city and its culture."

The festival is based on a 2,000-year-old ancient folk story. According to the story, a boy worked with his father as a fisherman, but instead of working, he would meet with a girl. The father punished the boy by allowing him to only meet with her once a year. The boy and girl represent the stars Altair and Vega which are said to meet once a year.

Festival participants carried performers on floats dressed up as various traditional Japanese characters such as foxes, dragons and monkeys, who told folklore stories through dance.

It is also tradition for people to write their wishes on pieces of paper and hang them on bamboo trees at the festival, with the hope of them coming true.

For one Airman, attending the Tanabata festival was about more than just getting off base.

"I attended the festival because it was a good way for me to get involved in Japanese culture," said Airman 1st Class Mario Acevedo, 374th Force Support Squadron food service specialist. "This was a lot of fun and I can't wait for next year."