Eager fish catchers wait on the edge of the wading pool at Salmon Park, Oirase, Japan, at the start of the Oirase Salmon Catching Festival, Nov. 13, 2010. Participants were given the opportunity to catch their own salmon with their hands. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

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.S. Air Force Col. Michael Rothstein, 35th Fighter Wing commander, catches a salmon at Salmon Park, Oirase, Japan, during the annual Oirase Salmon Catching Festival, Nov. 13, 2010. Local dignitaries and officials began the salmon catching by wrestling in the first catch of the day. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

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A Japanese man walks along a metal boardwalk carrying his freshly caught salmon during the Oirase Salmon Catching Festival at Salmon Park, Oirase, Japan, Nov. 13, 2010. After exiting the wading pool, participants were treated to hot salmon stew to combat the cold weather and wet clothing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

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Lindsay-Clair Light receives a prize from Oirase Salmon Catching Festival staff members at Salmon Park, Oirase, Japan, during the festival, Nov. 13, 2010. Prizes were given to participants who caught the largest or smallest salmon, as well as any that had a pink ribbon tied around its tail. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

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Oirase Salmon Catching Festival staff members release extra salmon into the wading pool at Salmon Park, Oirase, Japan, Nov. 13, 2010, during the festival. Staff members kept the wading pool full of live salmon from the river for participants to catch. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Van Wimmer, 35th Fighter Wing vice commander, holds up his catch at Salmon Park, Oirase, Japan, during the Oirase Salmon Catching Festival. After catching a salmon, festival staff members provided participants with plastic bags to help prevent the fish from regaining their freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

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U.S. Air Force Airman James Bauer, 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs journalist, holds up his catch during the Oirase Salmon Catching Festival at Salmon Park, Oirase, Japan, Nov. 13, 2010. Participants could get their catch cut and cleaned at a festival booth. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

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An Oirase Salmon Catching Festival staff member throws a salmon over a crate barrier in the wading pool during the festival at Salmon Park, Oirase, Japan, Nov. 13, 2010. Oirase also hosts a salmon release festival in the spring to help replenish the salmon population in the river. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

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Misawa Airmen catch Japanese culture

Published Nov. 16, 2010