Serving the U.S. Army Japan community

www.torii.army.milVOL. 39, NO. 29July 28, 2011

2 News 6 Community 11 Calendar 4 Community 8 Sports 12 Culture

INSIDE the TORII

Assistant Sec Army tours Zama, OkinawaBy Dustin PerryTorii Editor

The assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment will take what she learned during a two-day tour of various U.S. Army Japan facilities back to the Pentagon as part of her goal to improve existing policies and strategies, she said Sunday.

Katherine Hammack also praised the Army’s efforts throughout Operation Tomodachi and stressed the impor-tance of working toward “Net Zero,” the Army’s resource-conservation initiative. Her tour included a visit to Torii Station in Okinawa.

“I try to get out and see as many installations as I can,” said Hammack, an Oregon State University alumna who has served as the ASA since June 2010. “One thing I’ve found in the Army is no two installations are alike. Even here in Japan, each installation has a slightly different mission, role and goal.”

Upon her arrival Saturday at Hardy Barracks in Tokyo, Hammack was given an aerial tour of Yokohama North Dock, Sagamihara Family Housing Area, Camp Zama and Sagami General Depot aboard a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. Hammack’s first stop after landing at the 35th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion headquarters at Depot was the soon-to-be-open Mission Command Train-ing Center.

MCTC Director Hal Ayrton walked Hammack through the classrooms, command centers and briefing rooms of the facility, which can be used for a diverse number of training requirements and as an operations hub during military exercises.

On Sunday morning, Hammack received a command brief on USARJ and USAG-J by military leaders and ci-vilian directors from the organizations. The brief outlined the units’ respective missions and other key facts, but also touched on their roles during recovery efforts following the earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan on March 11.

“One of the things that was most interesting was the effectiveness of the [Army’s] response to 3/11,” Hammack said. “I was amazed, sitting at the Pentagon, [at] the reports that came back. Communication was very effective, the responsiveness was very effective, and it really enhanced and identified what the mission is here in Japan.”

Hammack said during her tour that one of her main fo-cuses as she visits Army installations throughout the world is to see what is being done to meet the aforementioned Net Zero goal. The initiative, which began its pilot program this year at three installations, aims to reduce resource consumption in three areas: energy, water and waste.

For an installation to be qualified as Net Zero, it must consume as much energy or water as it produces and eliminate solid waste to landfills. The lights in some of the installations here that Hammack toured were not turned on during the day – part of an ongoing effort to conserve energy

Hammack visits USARJ installations, stresses importance of ‘Net Zero’ compliance

Photo by Dustin PerryKatherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, is given a tour of the soon-to-be-opened Mission Command Training Center at Sagami General Depot by MCTC Director Hal Ayrton. Hammack was in Japan Saturday and Sunday to visit various U.S. Army Japan installations and facilities. See ASA TOUR, Page 3

2 July 28, 2011 TORII www.torii.army.milNEWS

Zama Briefs

Driving remindersAll DoD cardholders and master labor

contract employees must comply with the following regulations when driving on U.S. military installations in Japan:

• Bicycle riders must wear an approved helmet with the chin strap fastened at all times. Riders must comply with traffic regulations, which include stopping at stop signs and yielding the right-of-way when required.

• The use of headphones or earphones while driving, walking, jogging, skating or bicycling on installation roads and streets is prohibited.

• Operators of two-wheeled cycles propelled by a motor must wear the required personal protection equipment as follows: Riders will wear helmets that are properly fastened under the chin, and the helmet must meet approved safety standards, which can be identified by locating the certification tag within the helmet shell.

• Riders will wear shatter-resistant goggles or a full face shield that is properly attached to the helmet. The windscreen alone does not meet the proper eye protection requirement.

• Riders will wear a long-sleeve shirt or jacket, full-length trousers and full-fingered gloves or mittens. Leather boots or over-the-ankle shoes must be worn. A brightly colored outer garment must be worn during the day and a reflective upper garment must be worn at night and during times of reduced visibility.

• All motor vehicle operators must wear a seatbelt.

• Refrain from drinking heavily the night before your work day. Remember that one alcoholic beverage will render the average-sized individual legally drunk under Japanese law.

• All drivers must come to a full and complete stop at yield and stop signs when crossing traffic is present.

Army Suggestion ProgramThe Army Suggestion Program,

previously known as the Army Ideas for Excellence Program, has gone online. The new suggestion-processing program was unveiled on Army Knowledge Online.

Anyone with an AKO username and password can now submit suggestions electronically. Detailed guidance is provided at https://armysuggestions.army.mil.

There are several advantages to this program, the biggest one being that anyone with access to the Internet can make a suggestion from wherever they are. There is no longer a need to wait until you return to your home station to write and submit an idea. Once submitted, the suggestion is processed entirely online.

For further information, contact program administrator Keith Simon via email at keith.simon@us.army.mil or by phone at 263-5129. An alternate point of contact is Masao Naito, who can be contacted via email at masao.naito@us.army.mil or by phone at 263-5634.

PACOM surgeon leads town hall, assures community Japan is safeBy Dustin PerryTorii Editor

Photo by Dustin PerryRear Adm. Michael H. Mittelman, center, speaks to community members at Camp Zama during a town hall meeting July 20. He and a panel of military and civilian experts answered questions and asserted the safety of Japan following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, as well as lingering concerns about radioactivity levels.

A panel of scientific experts, led by the U.S. Pacific Command’s top surgeon, was at Camp Zama on July 20 to reassure the community here that Japan is and remains safe following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

The visit was a town hall forum in which Rear Adm. Michael H. Mittelman provided attendees with an update on the many ongo-ing health and safety measurements being taken across the country and on military and Department of Defense installations.

“All of our lives changed last March,” Mittelman told the crowd. “Our focus at PACOM was on the health and welfare of all of our active-duty personnel, all of their families, and everybody else who works here for DoD in Japan. We’re here [today] to reassure you that everything is fine here, from an environmental and health care perspective.”

Mittelman and the panel’s visit to Camp Zama was part of a tour that included stops at many other military installations in Japan. He was joined by representatives from the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research In-stitute in Bethesda, Md., a nuclear special-ist assigned to U.S. Forces Japan, and the commander of the Japan District Veterinary Command.

A prominent portion of Mittelman’s address included the announcement of an AFRRI-led plan to calculate and assess the approximate level of radiation of the 61,000 U.S. personnel living and working in Japan. The figures will be based on a variety of data to include geographical location, length of time spent in Japan following March 11, and respective environmental radiation readings of the air, water and soil. The information will be included in a person’s electronic medical records and available for their retrieval sometime within the next 16 to 18 months – even if they leave Japan during that timeframe, the AFRII director said.

“We’ve been involved with the response to this incident from the beginning, [and] we’ve been monitoring all of the data that has been coming in,” said Col. Mark Melanson, an expert in radiation and radiation-related health effects. “We’re doing this because this is a unique situation and we want to provide you with … this information.”

Though the situation at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has improved significantly in the last four months, concerns about radiation exposure remain prevalent among U.S. personnel in Japan. Throughout the relief effort known as “Operation Tomodachi,” nearly 8,000 U.S. servicemembers who took part were later tested for radiation levels. The results were overwhelmingly reassuring, said Mittelman.

“We looked at personnel who were working in what we call the ‘warm and hot zone,’ which is the 125 nautical miles from the Fukushima reactor,” said Mittelman.

“It’s amazing what we found – because [we found] nothing.

“Ninety-eight percent of the people who were screened had no detectable radiation exposure whatsoever,” he added. “Two percent had the equivalent of about two and a half X-rays, which is not very much. The science tells us what we intuitively knew – that everything is safe.”

Further assurance on the stability of the situation at Fukushima was given by Navy Capt. Reid Tanaka, a specialist assigned to USFJ. He made note of the GOJ’s an-nouncement the day before that they had achieved “Step One” in their repair efforts, which included a circulation system that pumps cooling water into the reactors and does not allow the escape of any radioactive elements into the environment.

“The Tokyo Electric Power Company has the best plan-ahead that the smartest minds around the world could come up with,” said Tanaka. “The workers have been working – initially in the cold, and now in the heat – in full suits and respirators, working this every day making inches in the battle for a mile. Our assessment is they’re about as stable as they can be.”

Concerns about the safety and edibility of food and drink products both on and off military installations in Japan were ad-dressed by Lt. Col. Margery Hanfelt, the JDVC commander. Her team of Soldiers and specialists has conducted more than

7,000 readings to date, checking everything from air and water quality to the food sold at commissaries and served at food courts, community clubs and military dining facilities.

“The food on the installation is safe,” said Hanfelt. “The food safety inspections have been occurring, and they will continue to occur – we’re at commissaries, we’re at food-receipt sites, and we’re at the delivery trucks.

“And what about if you eat off the instal-lation?” she added. “I have looked through the Japanese testing results, I have met with [Government of Japan] officials on the food safety side, and I have looked at reams of test results. I have every confidence in what the Japanese government is doing for food safety right now, and I continue to have that confidence.”

Following the town hall, Mittelman again reiterated his stance that Japan is a safe place to live and work. He also praised the respective U.S. military command teams throughout the country for working hard to instill a sense of security within their communities.

“The credit goes to the command struc-ture here at Camp Zama, because I think prepping the community over the course of ‘Tomodachi’ has made a big difference,” said Mittelman. “You can tell that they’re well-informed, comfortable and safe. All we did was come and validate that for them.”

“We’re here [today] to reassure you that everything is fine here, from an environ-

mental and health care perspective.”– Rear Adm. Michael H. Mittelman,

Command Surgeon, U.S. Pacific Command

INSIGHT & NEWSwww.torii.army.mil

This Army-funded newspaper is an authorized publication for the members of the Army community in Japan in accordance with Army Regulation 360-1. Contents of the TORII are not necessarily the official view of, or endorsement by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the U.S. Army Garrison Japan command. It is published weekly by the TORII staff of the USAG-J HNR/Public Affairs office, APO, AP 96343-0054, phone 315-263-5978.

This publication, with a weekly circulation of 2,000, is printed by Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo. All photos are U.S. Army photographs unless otherwise indicated. The newspaper uses military news services including American Forces Press Service and Army News Service.

Story and photo submissions not pertaining to commercial advertising may be sent to the USAG-J HNR/PAO TORII Office at least two weeks prior to the desired publication date. The TORII is distributed every Thursday. Submissions may be e-mailed to the editor at dustin.perry@us.army.mil. The editor reserves the right not to publish submissions not in accordance with Army Public Affairs regulations and standard operating procedures. Editorial offices are located in room A-208, Bldg. 102, South Camp Zama, Japan.

T RII Newspaper Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Michael T. Harrison Sr.Garrison Commander: Col. Eric D. TilleyActing Garrison Public Affairs Officer: Dustin PerryEditor: Dustin PerryStaff Writer: Tetsuo NakaharaDeputy Okinawa Bureau Chief: Lauren Hall

TORII July 28, 2011 3

Sound Off!

Do you have a concern or an issue on your mind? Are you seeking a channel for your voice to be heard? Look no further. The Torii Newspaper welcomes all letters regarding issues or concerns involving the Camp Zama community as a whole. Critical letters should offer suggestions for resolutions as applicable. Letters or e-mails must be signed, but names will be withheld in publication upon request. The Torii Newspaper will protect the names of its sources if they so desire.

Letters may be edited for content and length according to the Associated Press Stylebook and the Torii Style Guide.If you would like to have your voice heard in the Torii Newspaper, e-mail your letters to the editor at dustin.perry@us.army.mil, or send by regular mail to:

HNR / Public AffairsU.S. Army Garrison JapanATTN: TORII EditorUnit 45005, IMPC-JA-HNR/PAAPO AP 96338

Although door-to-door trick-or-treating was canceled this year due to inclement weather, Halloween festivities were promptly moved indoors to the Camp Zama Community Club for an evening of table-to-table candy distribution, a costume contest for multiple age groups, music, dancing, and refreshments. Hundreds of children were clad in a variety of frightening, funny and clever costumes; the Torii presents a sample of some of its favorites from this year’s Halloween holiday.

ASA TOUR, from Page 1

in Japan – which she said was encourag-ing to see.

“We have to figure out how we can generate energy from other sources – re-newable sources, wind, solar – and also use less energy,” said Hammack. “Energy security is really of critical importance because without energy, the Army stands still and silent.”

Hammack went on to say that Net Zero is something that everyone – Soldiers, civilians and family members – needs to understand and work toward achieving. Managing the Army’s available resources better today will ensure an enhanced orga-nization in the future, she said.

“If we’re able to be more self-sufficient – whether it is in Japan, Afghanistan or in Fort Bragg – then we are better able to serve our primary mission,” said Hammack. “We [have] identified 17 installations that are striving toward Net Zero by 2020. Many of them have made significant progress and are about halfway there. They’re demonstrating to the rest of our Army installations what it will take to get all the way there.”

Welcome, teammates, to the inaugural edition of the Command Sergeant Major’s Corner.

Since my arrival to the team in February, I have struggled to come up with a conduit to reach out to you and get your feedback. Thanks to the editors of the Torii, I now have such a resource that I feel can lead to both an increased and streamlined flow of information. I also believe it can make our community a better place for all those who live and work here.

This column will not be just a venue where I simply write about my observations

for the week. Instead, it is my hope that the content is largely decided by you, the reader. We need to create an environment in which every member of U.S. Army Japan can benefit from each other. To that end, I have established an email address to which you can send your questions or comments directly to me. I will endeavor to answer or respond to as many queries as I can in the pages of this publication. All questions will be published anonymously, but my responses will hopefully be beneficial for everyone.

My responses will only be as good as

the thoughtfulness of each question. Re-member, the Torii is sent out across all of USARJ and has a readership than includes community members in Camp Zama, Torii Station, Kadena, Kure, Misawa, Yokohama, and other locations. Also, at least once a month, we will have a guest command sergeant major senior-enlisted leader from our community to respond and give their thoughts. With this one article you, the reader, will get access to the thoughts of every command sergeant major in Japan. This includes U.S. Army Garrison – Japan, the 10th Support Group, the 35th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, and 1st Brigade, 1st Air Defense Artillery, as well as senior-enlisted leaders from Yokota, Misawa and other locations.

So put your thinking caps on and send me your “free shot.” Together, we can make a great place to serve, even better.

The email address for questions or com-ments is: USARJCSM@zama.army.mil.

Photo by Dustin PerryKatherine Hammack, left, assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, visited various U.S. Army Japan sites Saturday and Sunday, including a tour of the BOSS Warrior Zone at Camp Zama by Sgt. Crystal Chhan.

I Want to Hear From You!

This column is a venue for you to receive feedback

from senior leaders.

Send your questions, comments and other concerns to me at:

USARJCSM@zama.army.mil

CSM’s CornerCommand Sgt. Maj. James P. NormanCommand Sergeant Major, U.S. Army Japan

COMMUNITY4 July 28, 2011 TORII www.torii.army.mil

SCHOOL NEWSZama Child Development Center: 263-4992

SHA Child Development Center: 267-6348

Registration: To register your child or for more information please stop by the CYS Central Enrollment Registry Office in Bldg. 533 on Camp Zama, or call 263-4125 or SAS at 267-6013.

John O. Arnn Elementary: 267-6602

Arnn summer hours:• Monday through July 29: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily; closed from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch• Closed: July 4• Aug. 1 through 5: 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; open during lunch hours• Aug. 8 through 12: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; open during lunch hours• Aug. 15 ~: 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (normal office hours)Those who are new to the community or have a kindergarten student to register for the upcoming school year, can visit the Arnn campus or call 267-6602 for more information.

Student registration: The school registration process continues at Arnn for newly arrived families and for those who have kindergarten-aged children.

Minimum Age Requirements• Sure Start: Child must be 4 years old by Sept. 1, 2011• Kindergarten: Child must be 5 years old by Sept. 1.• First grade: Child must be 6 years old by Sept. 1 (non-transferring students)Arnn Elementary is a pre-kindergarten through sixth-grade school for those families who are command-sponsored by U.S. Army Garrison – Japan and its affiliated units.

Please hand-carry the following documents at time of registration: Orders of sponsor (orders must have the child or children’s names on the orders), updated copy of child’s immunization records; student’s passport or birth certificate, letter of employment (civilians only), updated contact information, parent’s identification card, and previous school records, if applicable.

New student orientation: Arnn Elementary School will be hosting its annual New Student Orientation beginning at 3 p.m. Aug. 18 in the school’s cafeteria. The orientation is designed for students attending Arnn for the first time to come and learn about the educational programs and receive a tour of the school.

Zama American Middle School: 263-4040

Visit the Web at www.zama-ms.pac.dodea.edu/ for information pertaining to Zama American Middle School.

Zama American High School: 263-3181

Visit the Web at www.zama-hs.pac.dodea.edu/ for information pertaining to Zama American High School.

Child, Youth and School Services: 263-4500

U-Turn Program: This program is designed for youths to turn themselves around and get the help they need to graduate from high school and move on to higher education. It’s up to U to turn yourself around. Join us Tuesday and Thursday nights to form study groups; work together with your classmates; get help from staff and other volunteers; tutor classmates; get S.A.T. tutoring / practice tests; use this time to work on scholarships and other financial aid applications.

Midyear music review: 2011’s top albums so farBy Dustin PerryTorii Editor

We’re more than halfway through 2011, the first seven months of which have seen the release of some amazing and eclectic music amid the usual crop of forgettable one-hit wonders, mindless Top 40 pop tunes and *shudder* Rebecca Black’s “Friday.” Considering I’ll be in Yuzawa this weekend for the three-day Fuji Rock Festival, it seemed an appropriate time to highlight some of my favorite rock, folk, rap and comedy releases of the year thus far.

Helplessness Blues – Fleet FoxesMuch like the way the

White Stripes’ raw rock songs sound as if they were plucked from an era three decades before they were recorded, Fleet Foxes have proved to be masters at crafting somber folk tunes that evoke images of re-mote, cabin-strewn mountain townships from the previous century. On Helplessness Blues, the band’s sophomore follow-up to their stellar self-titled 2008 debut, lead singer Robin Pecknold tackles some themes that manage to situate the group in the modern day, but the songs are just as mesmerizing as anything in their discography.

Hot Sauce Committee Part Two – Beastie BoysThe latest album from New York hip-hip heroes the

Beastie Boys – originally planned as the first of two in a series – was delayed when member Adam “MCA” Yauch was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2009. Upon his re-covery, the non-chronologically renamed Part Two was finally released in April, much to the delight of Beasties fans everywhere. The group’s first album with vocals since

their underrated 2004 classic To the 5 Boroughs is full of gems like the infectious “Make Some Noise,” the gruff “Too Many Rappers” featuring Nas, and the heavy-but-funny “Say It.” The group’s yet-to-be-announced Part One will have the rare task of an original having to live up to an excellent sequel. The logistics of that boggle the mind.

Angles – The StrokesI am an unapologetic defender of Strokes front man

Julian Casablancas’ synth-heavy 2009 solo album Phrazes for the Young. The songs couldn’t be more different than the Strokes’ established “New York Cool” sound that propelled them to fame a decade ago, but they were nonetheless a collection of fun and catchy ‘80s throwbacks. Angles, the group’s first release since 2006, undoubtedly hews closer to Casablancas’ newfound musical direction than their breakthrough Is This It, which might be a deal-breaker for some longtime listeners. However, a closer look reveals a sonically diverse collection of songs (“Machu Picchu,” “Under Cover of Darkness and “Life is Simple in the Moonlight” are among the highlights) in which the spirit of the band still manages to shine through.

Turtleneck & Chain – The Lonely IslandThe Lonely Island are

comprised of Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, the viral-video superheroes behind Satur-day Night Live’s “Digital Shorts.” The three quickly established themselves as the comedic masters of the “fake rap” game on their debut Incredibad, which spawned hits like “I’m on a Boat” and a host of other absurd, profane – but above all, hilari-ous – tunes. TLI’s love of hip-hop’s many subgenres is evident once again on follow-up Turtleneck & Chain, and

they take care to craft stylistic parodies that are not only funny, but also well-produced tributes. Also similar to the best rap albums, TLI make excellent use of guests (See: Michael Bolton on “Jack Sparrow,” Justin Timberlake on “Motherlover” and Nicki Minaj on “The Creep”).

Stand-up Comedy RoundupJust like the worlds of

indie rock, rap and folk have respective groups of enthu-siasts who salivate over an-ticipated releases from their favorite bands and artists, stand-up comedy fans have for the past few years been able to get in on the action. Many of today’s most popu-lar podcasts are comedian-led and provide further insight into their craft, but the stand-up album remains the purest distillation of their talents.

This year has thus far seen the release of at least two hands-down classics, my personal favorite being Norm Macdonald’s Me Doing Standup. The SNL alum’s long-awaited debut (2006’s Ridiculous was all studio-recorded sketches) is front-to-back funny and serves as proof that Macdonald’s signature delivery and dry wit is just as ef-fective today as it was when he began performing more than 20 years ago.

Louis C.K.’s aptly titled Hilarious is another home run in a long line of albums and specials that highlight the performer’s skill for pointing out society’s absurdities, the struggles of being divorced, and middle-age self-loathing – all well-worn comedy topics – in a style that is brutally honest, scarily accurate and tearfully funny.

Also recommended: Bon Iver’s self-titled sophomore album, Battles Gloss Drop, “Weird Al” Yankovic’s Alpoca-lypse, Radiohead’s The King of Limbs, Arctic Monkeys’ Suck it and See, and Tyler, the Creator’s Goblin.

COMMUNITYTORII July 28, 2011 5www.torii.army.mil

Community members get ready for Bon Dance FestivalBy Tetsuo NakaharaTorii Staff

Photos by Tetsuo NakaharaMasako Kawasaki, a Bon dance instructor from the Zama Women’s Association, demonstrates the sequence for the Tanko Bushi dance during free lessons Thursday at the Camp Zama Community Activity Center. “Tanko Bushi” is a song about coal mining, and it refers to the Miike mine in Kyushu. It is a common Bon dance that depicts the actions of miners such as digging, pushing and hanging a lantern. The remaining dates for Bon dance lessons are scheduled for today and Aug. 2 and 4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the CAC.

More than 50 Camp Zama community members of all ages practice the steps of a traditional Bon dance during free lessons held Thursday at the CAC. The 52nd annual Bon Odori Festival here is scheduled for Aug. 6.

Camp Zama community members have begun preparing for Camp Zama’s 52nd annual Bon Odori Festival – sched-uled for Aug. 6 – by taking free Bon dance lessons that began July 19 at Community Activity Center here.

Masako Kawasaki and Toyoko Akutagawa, Bon dance instructors from the Zama Women’s Association, have offered the free lessons at Camp Zama for more than 10 years.

“I have been dancing in Camp Zama’s Bon Odori Fes-tival since it first started,” said Akutagawa. “We came to Camp Zama to help fit people for their yukata (summer kimonos) and dance more than 50 years ago. The key is that we dance for fun. We don’t worry too much about how to move; we just have fun dancing together.”

The massive group Bon dance in the evening is the highlight of the festival, in which community members and Japanese guests dance together to traditional drum- and flute-filled Japanese music under a large tower erected at Rambler Field.

The Bon dance originated in Japan as a way to welcome the souls of deceased ancestors with cheerful dancing at night during Bon Week – which falls during the middle of August – because Japanese believed this would cause their ancestor’s soul to return. People of all ages gathered at parks, temples or shrines in their communities to perform this tradition.

“Bon dance festivals are becoming rarer in Japan due to large spaces being lost to construction or city development, but Camp Zama still has a great space for many people to be able to dance together,” said Kawasaki. “Bon dancing

is a way to pay respect to the souls of those who passed away, and this year there are many lost souls due to the recent disaster in northern Japan. We should respect and pray for those souls through Bon dancing, and at the same time have fun.”

More than 50 community members took part in the second night of Bon dance lessons Thursday at the CAC. Attendees learned were shown the basic steps of several different dances during the two-hour class by the two experienced instructors.

The most well-known Bon dances include “Tanko Bushi,” “So-ran Bushi” and “Zama Ondo,” all of which are demonstrated before the class to give participants the confidence to dance at the festival. The movements of the dances are based on the story within the song. For ex-ample, “So-ran Bushi,” one of the most popular traditional Japanese songs, is about a fisherman and each movement is based on a fisherman’s actions, such as throwing a net and paddling a boat.

“It’s very fun because it’s a cultural experience,” said Kayoa Tohn, a family member who attended Thursday’s lesson. “And also, it’s just fun being able to dance and learn the different movements. I’m a Native American, and some of the foot movements are similar to the way we dance. I’m really looking forward to the Bon Odori Festival here, and I hope my mom will be able to come out and visit so she can see the dance. I’m planning to come to every single class.”

The lessons are open to all community members. The remaining days for the lessons are scheduled for today and Aug. 2 and 4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the CAC. No pre-registration is required to attend. For more information, call the USAG-J Community Relations Office at 263-7156.

6 July 28, 2011 TORII www.torii.army.mil TORII July 28, 2011 7

COMMUNITY

By Tetsuo NakaharaTorii Staff

Zama youth drilled on soccer skillsat British Football Academy clinic

Under the summer sun, boys and girls on Camp Zama ran and chased soccer balls while hustling and sweating on the green field behind Yano Fitness Center during a five-day summer soccer program, which began Monday and concludes Friday.

More than 40 youth from ages 5 to 18 years attended the soccer clinic hosted by Youth Sports and Fitness here. The coaches of the clinic, three members of the British Football Academy in Tokyo, were invited to the base for the annual event.

BFA is a professional soccer coaching organization that was established in 2004 and operates out of a number of locations in the Kanto area – mainly in Tokyo and Yokohama – bringing the British style of football education and competition to youngsters in Japan. This marks the fifth time the academy has visited Camp Zama.

Camp Zama is one of a few places in Japan that has great facilities and nice grass pitches, said Sid Lloyd, senior coach for BFA.

“In Japan, it’s so difficult to get to play on the grass,” said Lloyd. “It’s great that kids are able to have these grounds and take the opportunity to use them. Our coaches enjoy teaching on the grass; it’s a different feeling. There

is not so much heat coming up from the ground, and it’s nice and soft.”

Drinks were provided by the YSF staff to prevent heat injuries among the children during the day and night. The clinic was divided into two groups: the 5-to-8-year-olds during the day and the 9-to-18-year-olds in the evening.

The participants had the chance to learn not only a variety of soccer skills such as drib-bling, passing and shooting, but also sportsmanship and teamwork, through the clinic.

“It’s been amazing,” said Musu Ga-loia, 12. “You get to meet new people who are really nice to each other. The coaches are really nice and funny. Even if you’re not good like me, they include you in the game and everybody works together.”

Some of the parents also came out to the field and, with smiles on their faces, watched their children take part in the

beneficial health and fitness education opportunity.“This is my fourth time coming back to Camp Zama,”

said Dave Callaghan, head coach for the BFA. “I see some of the same faces every year, and it’s good to see them maturing. Their soccer skills are getting much better. Basically, the key to be a better player is to practice and keep practicing until you get better. This is only a five-day clinic, so the main thing is to have fun. Hopefully they go from here and continue playing football, and we’ll see them next year.”

Feliciano Sebastian, 8, gets ready to kick a goal Monday during a youth soccer clinic held at Yano Field. More than 40 children and teens participated in the clinic, which was hosted by the British Football Academy in Tokyo.

Coaches from the British Football Academy in Tokyo give instruction to young players participating in a five-day clinic at Camp Zama. A group of children playing soccer chase the ball during a practice match Monday during the clinic.

Photos by Tetsuo Nakahara

SPORTS & FiTneSS8 July 28, 2011 TORII www.torii.army.mil

ThreatsTriple

All-around athletes swim, bike and run their way through challenging course of Camp Zama’s

inaugural triathlon (See opposite page)

Photo by Dustin PerryAndrew Fennell races to complete the 10-mile bicycle portion of Camp Zama’s inaugural triathlon, which was held Saturday at Yano Fitness Center here. Also part of the race was a 300-meter swim and four-mile run.

SPORTS & FiTneSSTORII July 28, 2011 9 www.torii.army.mil

Payday golf scrambleA payday golf scramble for U.S. Army Japan community and family members is scheduled to be held Friday, with an 11:30 a.m. shotgun start, at the Camp Zama Golf Course here. The $15 entry and green fees for nonmembers will be paid for by Morale, Welfare and Recreation. Entry fees for master labor contract employees is 5,000 yen, and for Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members, the cost is 3,000 yen. To sign up, visit http://www.mwrjapan.jp.pac.army.mil/information/mwr/business/golf/.

Sports physicalsArmy Regulation 608-10 requires all youths participating in youth sports programs to complete an annual sports physical and provide a copy as part of their registration. All registrations are completed at the Child and Youth Services’ Parent Central Services in Bldg. 533. To help, PCS staff members are making contact with families 30 days prior to the expiration date of children’s physicals to allow parents time to schedule a current one.

Water aerobicsWater Aerobics classes are from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays at Yano Fitness Center.

Jacuzzi, steam room, saunaOn Wednesday mornings, the jacuzzi, sauna and steam room are closed for maintenance from 8 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 263-4664 or 263-7980.

Sports photos wantedThe Torii newspaper wants to publish your action sports photos. To showcase your team or your child’s team, e-mail your digital action sports photos less than two weeks old (with captions) in .jpg format of 3 MB or more to tetsuo.naka-hara4@us.army.mil.

Your Weekly Dose

Sports Briefs

Access to care at BG Sams U.S. Army Health Clinic is available 24/7. The clinic is not open 24/7 but our triage line is available 24/7. When calling the clinic at 263-4127, our staff will notify a provider who will call you back. The provider will advise you if you can wait until the clinic opens, or if you need to seek medical care elsewhere.

Host-nation hospitals do not operate in the same manner as in the U.S. Local hospitals do not have to see you when you present at their ER. That is why we want you to call us first. If our provider thinks this is a medical emergency, that provider will engage our EMS staff including a translator. Please carry an emergency wallet card with information on who to call for medi-cal assistance. These cards are available at the clinic and at various community events such as CIE and Medical Morning.

Recently we have noticed an increase of calls to the “911” number. This is the emer-gency number which activates the MPs, our ambulance, EMTs and translators. If you have a life-threatening medical emergency, call “911” on post or “119” off post. If you are feeling sick or have an injury that does not meet the criteria for life, limb or eyesight, call the clinic at 263-4127 and push option 1 for triage nurse or 24/7 medical advice. Our provider on call will advise you on what options are available.

Photos by Dustin PerryCharles Ainsworth reaches for a cup of water during the four-mile run portion of Camp Zama’s inaugural triathlon, held here Sat-urday. The more than 30 athletes who competed in the event also completed a 300-meter swim and a 10-mile bicycle ride.

By Dustin PerryTorii Editor

Camp Zama’s inaugural triathlon did not only build upon the installation’s first ever duathlon – held seven weeks earlier – simply by adding another event; it also replicated the competitiveness, camaraderie and over-all success, the race organizer said.

Held Saturday at Yano Fitness Center here, the triathlon featured more than 30 participants and two winners who spanned both ends of the spectrum in terms of their experience. First-timer Teruyuki Kawano was the men’s champion, while Amy Beg-nal, a veteran of endurance races, claimed the women’s title.

Planning for the triathlon was already underway when its preceding event – the 10-mile bicycle ride, 3.2-mile run duathlon – was held here June 4. Saturday’s race kicked off with an added 300-meter swim in the Yano pool and increased the run to an even four miles.

Holding the races within two months of each other boosted the awareness of both and also filled a gap in Camp Zama’s lineup of athletic events, said Jane Kupkowski, the installation’s fitness coordinator.

“There has really been a demand for a triathlon [at Camp Zama] for the last couple of years,” said Kupkowski. “We had the seen the different triathlons at places like Yokosuka and Atsugi and we thought, ‘Why aren’t we doing this for the community here?’”

Kawano, a member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, exercises regularly but said Saturday’s triathlon was the first in which he had ever competed. Currently

taking part in a 90 day co-op program here, Kawano was urged to sign up for the event by a U.S. Soldier.

“I was running every day to prepare,” said Kawano, who finished with the best overall time of 59 minutes, 24 seconds. “The swim was the hardest part of the triathlon for me, but the run was where I was able to do my best. I think it’s great that Camp Zama has events like these for the community.”

Gathered in a line that brought them sequentially to the 25-meter pool’s starting lane, the competitors took off in 15-second intervals. Completing this portion of the race necessitated down-and-back laps across six lanes before they exited the pool, changed clothes and moved to the transition area across the street.

The first of the two remaining outdoor legs of the triathlon was the 10-mile bicycle ride, a route that went through the middle of the installation and around the Camp Zama Golf Course for three laps. The athletes followed much the same course when they transitioned to the final portion, the four-mile run.

Begnal, who finished with a time of 1:11:01, is a certified Beachbody coach and said she works out and cycles on a weekly basis. She lauded the race organizers for putting together a competitive but enjoyable event and staging it on “a perfect course.”

“These smaller events are really amazing for first-time triathletes,” said Begnal, who works at Atsugi. “I think there’s a lot of encouragement out here for new triathletes to get into the field. Something like this is really good for any level of athlete.”

There are plans to not only make the triathlon and duathlon annual events at

Camp Zama, but also to expand them as seasonal competitions in the fall and spring, said Kupkowski.

“We want to make it fun and effective for any level to come out and be challenged,” she added. “We want to promote a fitness lifestyle, not just one race. We want people to eventually get into doing triathlons, du-athlons, 5K runs … it’s the goal at the end of the tunnel.”

Second-place finishers in the triathlon were Faron Cordrey in the men’s division and Amy Brinson in the women’s divi-sion, with times of 1:00:49 and 1:39:09, respectively.

Patterson Taylor completes the 300-meter swim portion of the triathlon in the pool at Yano Fitness Center here.

Classifieds & Movies 10 July 28, 2011 TORII www.torii.army.mil

Vehicles for sale

Movie sCHedUle aTsUGi Cinema 77

https://www.atsugi.navy.mil/ATSUGI/Mwr/index.html264-3789

saGaMiHaRa

for your Tv schedule, visit www.myafn.net

Classified ads not pertaining to commercial profit are free to military personnel, DA Civilians, Family members and MLC/IHA employees. Ads should be 20 words or less with non-workplace E-mail or phone numbers listed. To submit a classified ad, E-mail tetsuo.nakahara4@us.army.mil. However, the Torii Newspaper reserves the right not to publish inappropriate advertisements. Deadline is no later than noon Mondays. Military community classified ads can also be placed for free on a commercial Web site at www.mymilitaryclassifieds.com/xzclf/162_Camp_Zama_ARMY_/.

Appropriated Fund (APF) and Nonappropriated Fund (NAF) job announcements and application instructions are available at http://cpol.army.mil. For questions regarding APF vacancies, please call 263-3755. NAF MWR job announcements and required forms are also available at http://www.usarj.army.mil/information/zama/employ.htm. For questions regarding NAF vacancies, please call 263-5800.

Non-appropriated fund Pacific Stars & Stripes job announcements are available online at http://cpol.army.mil. For more information, call the Job Information Center at 229-3163.

Japanese national position vacancies are posted on the Internet at http://www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil/ima/sites/jeso/rp_jjobs_list_j.asp. Application forms are available on the same site. Selection status can also be checked. For more information, call 263-3325.

Jobs

Others

Wanted

Other local positions

Pets

http://www.aafes.com/ems/pac/zama.htm267-6111

friday6 p.m...Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2 (PG-13) 118 minutes9 p.m...Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2 (PG-13) 118 minutes

saturday3 p.m...Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2 (PG-13) 118 minutes6 p.m.............Jumping the Broom (PG-13) 113 minutes9 p.m...Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2 (PG-13) 118 minutes

sunday12 p.m...Gnomeo & Juliet ($1 Admission) (G) 84 minutes3 p.m...................Water for Elephants (G) 120 minutes6 p.m...Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2 (PG-13) 118 minutes

friday6:30 p.m............Captain America (PG-13) 124 minutes9:30 p.m.............The Conspirator (PG-13) 122 minutes

saturday4 p.m..............................Judy Moody (PG) 91 minutes6:30 p.m............Captain America (PG-13) 124 minutes9:30 p.m...Pirates of the Caribbean 4 (PG-13) 137 minutes

sunday2:30 p.m.........................Judy Moody (PG) 91 minutes5 p.m................Captain America (PG-13) 124 minutes8 p.m...Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2 (PG-13) 118 minutes

ATTENTION

animal adoption: Dogs and cats are available for adoption at the Camp Zama Veterinary Clinic. For more information, call 263-3875.

Child and Youth Program assistant (level 2-4), (CYS, Zama & SHA), CY-1/2, RFT/RPT, $9.59 - $17.09, Open Continuous

Child and Youth Program assistant (level 2-4), (CYS, Zama & SHA), CY-1/2, Flex, $9.59 - $17.09, NTE: 9/30/2011, Closes: July 27, 2011

Recreation assistant (lifeguard), RD, NF-02, Flex, $9.29, Closes: November 30, 2011

Recreation assistant (lifeguard/Pool operator), RD, NF-02, RFT, $9.29, Closes: November 30, 2011

food service Worker, BD, NA-02, Flex, $8.77, Close: August 14, 2011

Camp Zama WIC Overseas office has a PT position for Nutritionist/Dietitian/Nurse/Home Economist/Physician Assistant.Requires B.S. in Nutrition, Dietetics or Home Economics, or BSN in Nursing with some experience in prenatal, maternal or infant nutrition. Experience with WIC desirable. Must have current Driver’s License. Must be U.S. citizen. For consideration, please e-mail your resume and cover letter to: wicoverseasjobs@choctawarchiving.com or fax to: (210)525-1398. Choctaw Contracting Services, a rapidly growing provider of health, social, mental health, and administrative services, will reward your efforts with an attractive salary and benefits package.

administrative assistant: Girl Scouts is seeking a skilled office professional to support Girl Scout Overseas West-Pacific at Camp Zama. Excellent computer and communication skills a must. This regular part-time position (25-30)

hours per week is available June 15. Send cover letter and resume to Westpacificgirlscouts@gmail.com

anti-Terrorism/force Protection instructors wanted. Positions are available with Firearms Academy of Hawaii, Inc. Duties include instruction of marksmanship, watch standing and tactical team movements. Position location is Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. Marksmanship instructor experience is a must. Tactical team movement experience is desired. Qualified candidates may call Christopher at 243-6171 or send resume to yeagleycj@yahoo.com.

Pharmacist, intermittent (240 hours): Provides pharmacist services for outpatient pharmacy at MEDDAC-Japan, Camp Zama. Must have A degree in Pharmacy from an accredited school in the United States or Canada. This is a contract positions open to SOFA status applicants. Resumes may be sent to Yoshiyasu.Aoki@us.army.mil. ALL applicants shall register in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at www.ccr.gov.

Catholic organist: Description: Solicitation No. FA5209-11-T-0113, Location: Camp Zama, Japan. Job Description: This position is to provide services as the Catholic Organist for scheduled services and programs directly associated with the intent of supporting the Catholic religious service.Evaluation Factors: (1) Price (2) Resume (3) Interview. If you have any questions, or for more information, please contact Ms. Akiko Ogawa at 225-2209 or 042-551-6120. Email: akiko.ogawa.jp@yokota.af.mil, Closing Date: 8 Jul 2011 16:30 hours. Solicitation documents are also available on website: https://www.fbo.gov/ (Federal Business Opportunities)

substitute teachers: Zama American High/Middle School are currently accepting applications for substitute teachers. U.S. citizenship and a high school diploma or GED are required. For more information or any questions, please call 263-4005.

Due to the recent contract with Allied Telesis, residential phone numbers with 263- and 267- prefixes have changed. If you are currently running a classified ad in the Torii that lists an out-of-date residential number as a point of contact and would like to change it to your new extension, send an e-mail to tetsuo.nakahara4@us.army.mil with the updated phone number. The Torii staff will work to ensure these changes are reflected in future issues of the publication.

Pet sitting: available around Zama & SHA area. An experienced pet owner. Will walk, feed, and play with dogs or cats while at work or on vacation. $20 a day. sasha-yuri@hotmail.com, 090-8947-4307

Give Hope Nippon: T-shirts designed to raise money for the victims of the earthquake/tsunami. 100% of the profits will go to the Lions Club International. Please visit the website http://givehopenippon.org/index.html and/or like the facebook page “Give Hope Nippon” and like the page!

Cub scout Pack 34: Cub Scouts Pack 34 meets every 2nd Thurs 18:30 Zama Scout Hut Bldg 533. Parents & Single-Soldier Volunteers are welcome. All boys grades 1 - 5 are encouraged to join us for great learning experiences, character building and fun! Contact Cubmaster royfluke@ybb.ne.jp 090-6042-0797.

ZaCsa’s east Meets West shop: located behind the dry cleaners on Camp Zama, carries vintage Japanese items and collectibles. Store hours are every Tuesday and the 2nd and 4th Saturday’s of the month from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Profits from the shop go back to the community in scholarships and welfare grants. For additional information please call 263-5533. Stop on by and check it out.

JaPaNese sPoUse ClUB: Would you like to socialize with other Japanese spouses, learn more about being a military spouse, share your experiences and support with others? If so, please call Meg at 263-8327 or e-mail jsczama@gmail.com for more information.

football Coaching: Volunteer Assistant Football Coaches are being sought for Zama High School. Interested individuals should consider their availability for daily after-school practices (1500-1730) as well as spring and preseason practices and games. Coaches meetings begin soon. For more information please contact Coach Merrell at 263-3181 or steven.merrell@pac.dodea.edu.

Taekwondo instructor: Child Youth & School Services SkiesUnlimited program is looking for a certified ATA Taekwondo instructor. If Interested please Contacted Nicholas Andrews, instructional program specialist, at 263-4125

volunteer at U.s. army Garrison Japan Postal service Center : Volunteer opportunities are available in the USAGJ Postal Service Center, we will provide you with valuable training in Post Office and Unit Mailroom operations. Please contact Army Community Services at 263-8087 for details and assistance on volunteering your services.

english teachers: A small off-post home school(about 200 students) near Sagami Depot. First time teachers welcome! Classes available Mon. – Thu. 1pm to 9pm (No weekends or Fridays!) Call for details. Derek Partington English School, home 042-756-4483; cell 090-3082-4439 or E-mail: partngtn@jcom.home.ne.jp

esl teacher: Seeking ESL teachers for two conversational group classes. One requires travel to Tama and is very accessible by car. Meeting times are the 1st and 3rd Sat. from 10:30 a.m. – noon for one class and Sat. from 3 to 4 p.m. for the second. Pay is ¥7,500 and ¥3,000 per hour respectively. Call 090-549-6725 or e-mail shantee12@yahoo.com.

instructor: Arts and Crafts Center seeks instructors to teach sewing, water color painting, washi paper craft and/or acrylic paint arts. Also looking for contracted framer who has at least three years experience in framing production.For more information, call Nodera-san at 263-4412.

Help needed: yard cleaning, house cleaning, and other chores. Compensations are upon agreements. Please contact x35477@gmail.com, or call 080-5879-8318.

97 Honda accord Wagon: JCI until May 2013, Freezing A/C, Sunroof, HID lights w/ Fog lights, Bose Sound System w/ 6-disk CD changer, Keyless entry, Roof Rack, 17” Rims, 2.4 Liter VTEC, Power Everything, 4 speed automatic w/ manual override (+/-) , Recent Tune-up, Runs Great! About 94,000 KM, Asking for $3,000 OBO, Call Greg at 090-6024-0582 or gzaboski@gmail.com

CoMMUNiTY CaleNdaRwww.torii.army.mil TORII July 28, 2011 11

UpcomingOngoing EventsDriver’s Education TrainingThe next driver’s education training for first-time drivers is scheduled for Aug. 19 through 24. For more informa-tion and to register for the course, please visit http://www.drivered.jp.

Chaplains anniversary celebrationA free anniversary luncheon celebrating the 236th year of U.S. Army chaplains is scheduled to be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday at the Camp Zama Community Club Ballroom here. The guest speaker at the event will be retired Sgt. Maj. Evelyn M. Clark. Seating is limited to 125 on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Bon Dance LessonsDate: July 28, and Aug. 2 and 4 Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Place: Community Activity CenterLearn the moves of traditional Japanese dance.No pre-registration necessary. For more information, call the USAG-J Community Relations Office at 263-7156.

Vacation Bible SchoolThe “Son Rock Kids Camp” Vacation Bible School, coordinated by the U.S. Army Garrison – Japan Chapel, is scheduled to be held 9 a.m. to noon on Aug. 8 through 12 at the Camp Zama Religious Education Center. Those eligible to attend are children from pre-kindergarten to fifth-grade age, and parents of pre-kindergarten-age children will be required to volunteer during the camp. Registration for the camp will begin July 4. Sign-up forms can be picked up and dropped off at the Camp Zama Community Club, the Sagamihara Housing Area and Atsugi Chapels, commissaries, the Camp Zama Library, or Camp Zama lodging facilities. Call James Corneliussen at 263-4689 or email james.corneliussen@us.army.mil for more information.

Energy-saving notice

Due to the current state of emergency and the limited electrical power generation capability across Japan, the following measures will be implemented immediately:

1. Turn off all unnecessary lights, especially in office spaces, classrooms and conference rooms, and turn down all remaining individual lighting levels where possible.

2. Turn off Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems. If shutdown is not possible during this heating season, turn thermostats down to 68 degrees or be-low. Reduce settings to 55 degrees at the end of the day.

3. Turn off all appliances when not in use.4. Maximize use of natural ventilation where feasible

and dress appropriately to maximize individual comfort.5. Clean or replace your air-conditioner filters.6. Maximize use of day-lighting in work areas an class-

rooms (use of sunlight in lieu of conventional power).7. Set computers, monitors, printers, copiers, and other

business equipment to their energy-saving modes, and turn them off if not in use and at the end of the day or as instructed by the 78th Signal Battalion.

8. Minimize energy usage during peak demand hours from 5 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. The major peaks occur from noon to 6 p.m. during normal work and school hours. The energy use during this period can be reduced by “load shedding,” thereby reducing the demand at the time the Garrison needs it the most.

9. Use laptop computers (preferably on battery power when possible). They consume 90 percent less energy than standard computers.

10. If possible, do not make photocopies or print docu-ments, and conduct all business electronically. Use e-mail instead of sending memorandums and faxing documents.

11. Limit the use of your vehicle. If vehicles will be used, implement carpooling and plan your trips accordingly. Use the public mass transportation system when available.

Post-Combat Stress SupportA support group to assist those experiencing symptoms of post-combat stress is offered from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Army Community Service.

Hisano Yamazakihisano.yamazaki.jp@yokota.af.mil

What’s Happening Outside the Gate?

Eagle 810, AFN Tokyo

Nepal Festival & Thai Food Festival @ Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, July 30-31

Eisa Dance and Music Perforamnce Fes-tival @ JR Shinjuku East Exit area, Tokyo, July 30* Eisa is an Okinawa’s folk performing art that represents an Okinawan Bon dance. The unique tones of Okinawan music are blended with taiko drums to create artistic and energetic beats.

Higashi-Rinkan Summer Festival: Awa Odori Dance Performance Festival @ Odakyu Line Higashi Rinkan Station area, Sagamihara City, Aug. 6-7Awa-odori dance has been performed for 400 years in Tokushima Pref on Shikoku Island and is the largest traditional folk dance festival in Japan. At this festival in Sagamihara City, 3,000 people dance with up-beat music played by Japanese instruments. Women wear summer cotton kimono or yukata and dance in formation. Men wear happi coats and tabi socks, and dance with more freedom. Everyone keeps their hands and arms above their shoulders, and men don’t let their heels touch the ground.

Hawaiian Event “Ukulele Picnic 2011 Yo-kohama 2 Days” @ Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, Aug. 6-7

www.torii.army.mil

Travel & CulTure12 July 28, 2011 TORII

Cruising in YokohamaTorii Staff repart

Yokohama, Japan’s “second city” offers some of the best attractions, restaurants and activities in the entire country. The city has remained the center for shipping, international commerce and trade since the 1800s – quite a feat for the once sleepy fishing village that was nearly decimated by an earthquake in 1923.

Foreign traders and adventurers from across the globe have been flooding the sidewalks and alleyways of Yokohama, the largest city in Kanagawa Prefecture. The port of Yokohama celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2009 and the next 150 years look just as bright as the last century and a half for Japan’s largest port.

Over the past 20 years, an intensive construction and de-velopment plan has taken place on Yoko-hama’s waterfront. In 1993, Japan’s tallest building Landmark Tower was completed forever changing the skyline of the city. The tower, which hurdles upwards for more than 971 feet, also features the world’s fastest elevator. Once the colossus tower was firmly ensconced along the water, more buildings including architecturally captivating hotels and massive shopping centers began to pop up culminating in the completion of Minato Mirai 21 or Harbor Future, a project that began in 1983 and continues to grow. The complex includes a railway system that connects the waterfront areas of Sakuragicho, Kannai, and Chinatown with the Shibuya district of Tokyo. Under the tower sits the Nihon Maru, a sailing ship and museum and a small amusement park with rides including a roller coaster and large Ferris wheel. There are also a collection of other smaller museums including the Yokohama Museum of Art and dozens of restaurants around the complex.

Moving southeast along the waterfront, visitors can

visit the Aka renga soko or Red Brick Warehouse for more shopping and restaurants and massive festivals throughout the year. The warehouse was at one time a customs house for ships arriving in the port of Yokohama. There is also the NYK Maritime Museum that displays exhibits about the history of shipping.

Next to the Red Brick Warehouse is the Yokohama International Passenger Terminal pier.

Even further down the water, visitors can talk a stroll along the promenade of Yamashita Park. Moored along the promenade of the park is the Hikawa Maru, an early 20th century ocean liner that once ferried passengers

back and forth be-tween Seattle and Yokohama. The ship is now a museum and it costs 200 yen for a tour that will take you throughout the decks of the ship. There are also vari-ous ferries and din-ner cruises that still operate in the area. For joggers, this area of Yokohama is a prime spot to stretch out their legs and enjoy the nice ocean breezes that wisp

along the piers between the water vessels. This area is lined with older hotels that have rooftop beer gardens and restaurants that open for the summer months and provide a fantastic view of the harbor.

Just a few blocks from Yamashita are the Kannai and Chinatown districts. These areas teem with hundreds of restaurants and bars featuring food and drink from around the globe.

In its 150 year history, the port area of Yokohama has become a must-see for visitors to Japan and the city continues to be on the cutting edge of architectural, culinary and cultural innovation. Although sometimes overshadowed by Tokyo, Yokohama is surely one of the greatest cities in the world.

Minato Mirai in Yokohama city is also popular spot to see night lights. Yokohama Cosmo World in Minato Mirai is an amusement park with about 30 fun attractions. The main attraction here is a large Ferris wheel called Cosmo Clock 21. Colors of the illumination beautifully change every 15 minutes at night.

The Osanbashi International Passenger Terminal, also known as Osanbashi Pier, is located between Minato Mirai and Yamashita Park. The pier is one of Yokohama's best spots for a walk, and for unobstructed views of the Minato Mirai skyline.

Photos by Tetsuo Nakahara