Aug 13, 2009www.torii.army.mil

Serving the U.S. Army Japan community

March 18, 2010VOL. 38, NO. 11

Serving the U.S. Army Japan community

www.torii.army.mil

2 News 6 Community 11 Calendar 4 Education 8 Sports 12 Travel / Culture

INSIDE the TORII

Photo by Dustin PerryCAMP ZAMA – Maj. Gen. Francis Wiercinski, commander of U.S. Army Japan and I Corps (Forward), signs the Army Family Covenant during a ceremony held March 10 at the Camp Zama Community Club here. In signing the document, senior members of the command pledged to develop programs and improve living standards for Soldiers stationed in Japan and their families. Other signers of the covenant included, from left, Command Sgt. Maj. William Franklin, command sergeant major of USARJ and I Corps (Forward); Col. Perry Helton, commander of U.S. Army Garrison-Japan; and Command Sgt. Maj. Scarlett Stabel, command sergeant major of USAG-J.

Soldier, family support pledged during covenant signingBy Dustin PerryTorii Editor

CAMP ZAMA – A commitment to develop and improve living standards for Soldiers and their families was pledged by Camp Zama’s senior commissioned and noncommissioned officers following their signing of a historic document March 10.

The Army Family Covenant was en-dorsed by the commanders and command

sergeants major of both U.S. Army Japan and I Corps (Forward), and U.S. Army Garrison-Japan during a ceremony at the Camp Zama Community Club. The signing of the document was part of the installa-tion’s four-day Army Family Action Plan conference held last week, during which several Department of the Army-related quality-of-life issues were addressed.

A group of people representing every facet of the Army – Soldiers, spouses,

children, DA civilians – stood onstage at the CZCC behind a table where Maj. Gen. Francis Wiercinski and Command Sgt. Maj. William Franklin of USARJ, and Col. Perry Helton and Command Sgt. Maj. Scarlett Stabel of USAG-J were seated. One by one, they signed the covenant as a narrator read the contents of the document.

“We recognize the commitment and increasing sacrifice that our families are making every day,” the document read.

“We recognize the strength of our Soldiers comes from the strength of their families. We are committed to providing Soldiers and families a quality of life that is com-mensurate with their services.”

The covenant also included a pledge to provide Army families with a “strong, sup-portive environment where they can thrive.” The pledge centers around standardizing

See COVENANT, Page 2

2 March 18, 2010 TORII www.torii.army.milNEWS

COVENANT, From page 1

and funding existing family programs and services, increasing the quality of health care, improving family housing, ensuring excellence in schools and youth programs, and expanding education and employment opportunities.

The AFAP conference gave members of the Camp Zama community the opportunity to bring forward any issues, concerns and suggestions to a panel of leaders from the installation; a select number of them from AFAP conferences held worldwide will

be chosen and forwarded to the DA level for resolution. Several vital topics were discussed during the conference here, said Helton.

“As with all AFAP conferences, the focus is: How do you improve the quality of life?” said Helton after the covenant signing. “We’ve got some concerns about our policy with civilians who have to move off post after having lived on post for five years; we’ve got some quality-of-life issues with our Soldiers who live in the barracks; we’ve been working on how we can im-prove our energy consumption – and [the

community has] come up with some great ideas and solutions.

“What [AFAP] does is, it provides feed-back from a grassroots level to let us know how we’re doing in the services were provid-ing,” added Helton. “Also, it allows us to be able to feed back up the chain of command to the Department of the Army on how the Army is doing overall. That feedback is really what the AFAP is all about.”

The Army Family Covenant was first unveiled in October 2007 with the intent of doubling the amount of funds from $700 mil-lion to $1.4 billion for family programs.

Zama Briefs

Road Tax ProgramThe 2010 Road Tax Program, consisting of the collection of this year’s road tax and the issuance of this year’s U.S. Forces Japan decal, is scheduled to be held from 9 to 11 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on the following dates inside the Firelite Lounge at the Camp Zama Community Club: today for drivers with last names L through R, and Friday for drivers S through Z. The date for drivers of smaller, yellow-plated vehicles and motorcycles is April 23. Call 263-4337 for more information.

Woman’s History MonthCamp Zama will observe Women’s History Month with a celebration event scheduled to be held Friday from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Community Activity Center here. The guest speaker has yet to be determined. The event is free and open to all members of the community.

Motorcycle rodeoA motorcycle rodeo is scheduled to be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 10 at Yokohama North Dock. The rodeo will feature four events: a timed circuit course, a slow-speed race, a relay race, and a poker run. All licensed Status of Forces Agreement-certified motorcycle operators are invited to attend and participate.Participants must ride their own street-legal, properly registered motorcycles. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. on the day of the event. To sign up, e-mail cdelzatto@capefoxit.com.

Credit, debit now available at Zama Post OfficeThe credit and debit card machines at the Camp Zama Post Office are now operational and available for customers. For more information, call the Camp Zama Post Office at 263-3347.

Road closureA portion of the road near the corners of 1st Avenue and I Street on Camp Zama are scheduled to be closed through April 16. The purpose of the closure is to replace a sewer line along the south side of Bldg. 101. Flagmen will direct the flow of vehicular traffic during the period of closure. Drivers are advised to use caution when near the construction site. For more information, call 263-5931.

Narita Bus Schedule Undergoes ChangesSince Feb. 1, the schedule for the bus to Narita Airport changed as follows: A bus now leaves Bldg. 780 (Army lodging) on Camp Zama at 8:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.; the Camp Zama Community Club at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.; and the Sagamihara Housing Area bus stop at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. A bus now leaves Narita’s Terminal 1 parking lot at 4 and 7 p.m., delaying departure until 8:30 p.m. for late-arriving manifested passengers.

Army Reserve chief, senior NCO address Zama community during town hall‘We’ve got to develop a campaign plan to re-shape the force; we have to reshape the Army

Reserve.’ – Lt. Gen. Jack C. StultzBy Dustin PerryTorii Editor

Photo by Dustin PerryLt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, left, chief of the Army Reserve and commanding general of the U.S. Army Reserve Command, addresses members of the Camp Zama community attending a town hall held Thursday at the Community Activity Center here. Command Sgt. Maj. Michael D. Schultz, seated at right, the Reserve’s senior noncommissioned officer, also spoke.

The chief and senior non-commissioned officer of the Army Reserve component com-mented on the current state of the part-time military force and laid out their vision for its future during a town hall held here.

Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael D. Schultz spoke to several Sol-diers and civilians Thursday at the Community Activity Center, explaining that they Reserve has changed from an operation force to a strategic one since the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Stultz began by saying the Reserve component in the Army currently has about 3,000 more personnel than the 205,000 needed – about 120 percent above the force’s stated recruit-ing goal and 140 percent above its retention goal, he said.

“That tells me that the Soldiers we have signing up today – either enlisting, or re-enlisting to stay with us – know what they’re getting into [and] understand the requirements,” said Stultz.

However, manpower is not everything, the general said. If the Reserve is to be truly effective in aiding the Army’s overall mission and deployment requirements, changes need to be made in order to ensure Soldiers with critical military occupational specialties are evenly distributed among com-mands across the U.S. and the world, said Stultz.

“We’ve got to develop a campaign plan to reshape the force; we have to reshape the Army Reserve,” said Stultz.

“We’ve got to take a look at our structure in terms of being able to career-develop people in the right location … 208,000 [Soldiers] sounds good, except it’s not the right 208,000. It’s not the right rank, it’s not the right MOS [and] it’s not the right location.”

The first step toward refining the Army’s part-time ranks is to “get very precise” with recruit-ing by enforcing what Stultz called “selective and qualitative retention.”

The general said bluntly that there are several Reservists who have become stagnant in their careers and have defaulted to performing the minimum re-quirements needed to remain in the Army. New regulations would make career progres-sion easier for the Soldiers who deserve it and harder for those who don’t, he said.

“It is no longer a right to serve 30 years in the military – it’s a privilege,” said Stultz. “We’re going to start looking at peoples’ records and we’re going to say, ‘Hey, if you’re a colonel and you turned down command twice, you dropped out of the war college and you got promoted, you’ve never deployed, you’ve been in the same position for six years – your time may be up.’”

Schultz referred to those who willingly do not perform to their full potential as “60 percent Soldiers.”

“The ‘60 percent Soldier’ shows up in your ranks for an [Army Physical Fitness Test] and … the first thing they ask the grader is, ‘How many push-ups or sit-ups do I need to do to get 60 points?’ Schultz told the audience. “We see it throughout

our ranks, and those are the in-dividuals who need to go home; we need them to move out.”

Stultz went on to praise the Army’s current deployment-dwell time model being used by both Reserve and active-duty units, saying it provides increased predictability for both servicemembers and their fami-lies. The town halls – Stultz and Schultz have attended several at Army installations across the world in the last month – provide the general with the

opportunity to meet with an exceptional group of Soldiers and listen to any concerns or questions they have, he said. As deployment operations overseas continue, more and more part-time Soldiers are gaining the training and combat experience equal to that of their active-duty counterparts.

“The men and women we have in the Army Reserve are the best-quality force we’ve ever had,” said Stultz. “They enjoy what they’re doing.”

INSIGHTwww.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 Newspaper is distributed every Thursday. Submissions may be e-mailed to the deputy public affairs officer at christopher.i.bush@us.army.mil. The Torii 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

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 deputy PAO at christopher.i.bush@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

Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Francis J. WiercinskiGarrison Commander: Col. Perry HeltonGarrison Public Affairs Officer: Edward H. RoperDeputy Public Affairs Officer: Christopher BushEditor: Dustin PerryStaff : Tetsuo Nakahara

TORII March 18, 2010 3

Stress is the result of strain due to conflicts, everyday life frustrations and demands. Also, a traumatic event, or a series of events, may lead to an emotional domino effect. But how are you responding to stress? We need to survive life. Life is a combat zone. Life wears us out. We need psychological immunity or protection. We need to wear our psychological hard hat.

When you choke your emotions back, eventually you start psychologically leak-ing. Your emotions will always find a way to be released. Don’t act like a turtle that pulls everything inside and hides. Talk. Don’t hold back. Don’t allow yourself to become totally frustrated. Don’t get to the point of helplessness. Then you will replace frustration with anger and resentment. And anger hides a lot of emotions and prevents the expression of other feelings. Underneath anger is frustration, and under frustration is pain. What is the worst part of the frustra-tion for you? Don’t let the situation dictate your behavior.

What is your emotional or psychologi-cal itch? If you can’t name it, describe it. Sometimes we cannot scratch the itch by ourselves – we need help. Describe what you are feeling or sensing. What is your gut reaction? Take your emotional or psycho-logical temperature. Conduct an inventory of you – it’s free. Write your feelings and reactions down. Get your emotions down on paper; this helps to defuse the situation while letting off steam. Writing things down helps put a layer of understanding on top of gut feelings. Do something.

Practicing stress-management skills increases our tolerance to stress and builds resiliency toward everyday life stres-

sors. The more we practice healthy stress management, the more we can tolerate the challenges of life. Now, let’s discuss how to maintain emotional mental health, manage stressful situations, and identify tension-breeding factors, all of which are key ele-ments in maintaining a healthy lifestyle

Psychological maintenance is the key to a successful life. We live in a psychological world. True reality is what is going on in your head all day, so take a look at what you are saying to yourself all day. Look at your self-talk. Typically, mental fatigue leads to ongoing frustration, and that may lead to a psychological “flat tire.” When the flat tire occurs, it’s time to modify your thinking and outlook on life. Knowledge is the key to managing your stress. Don’t give yourself bad information; be more logical, objective and pragmatic in your thinking. Remove your emotions from your decision-making.

You know it is time for a “tune-up” when

you’re having difficulty being happy; when life responsibilities are unfulfilled; when choices are hurting you, not helping you; when you’re emotionally running on half-empty; when you cannot make decisions; when you are excessively drinking or drug-ging; and when you are easily frustrated.

People experience stress differently; there are different levels of stress. However, taking control of your stress response will prevent the ongoing wear and tear that breaks down our physical and psycho-logical health. Psychological issues come from the destructive physical, emotional and social effects of long-term stress. Talk about what is going on. Decide what needs to be done. Again, look at your self-talk or silent conversation. Your internal dialogue can direct your thoughts and behavior. The self is never a finished product. The art of living is trial and error. People carve out their own destiny; you make yourself what you are, so ask yourself these questions: What

are the symptoms of my distress? What are my tension-breeding factors? What is my role in this situation? Can I change what is causing my stress? What are my immediate steps? What am I willing to do? What am I unwilling to do?

At various times in your life you need to assess your mental health. Just as you change the oil and filter in your car you need to change or recycle self-defeating thoughts, values and behavior. People get stuck in an emotional ditch when they have a psychological flat tire. In life, people get clogged up psychologically then become emotionally contaminated and stuck in a knot, so they need to internally “mop up” and get clarity into themselves before a catastrophic psychological meltdown oc-curs. Ask yourself the following questions: When is it time for a psychological tune-up? Do I need a minor or major tune-up? What are the signs that I need to reboot or recalibrate my thinking? When is time to upgrade my values? What is my biggest fear about change? What’s the worst thing that can happen if I change? What can I control? What can’t I control? Do I want to be sick or healthy? Do I want to continue living this way?

Life is a challenge to navigate. Keep a positive frame of mind. Act as if change is happening all the time. Keep track of what thoughts are racing through your head. Write down your stress- or tension-breeding factors. Next to each stress factor write down how you deal with it, then mark the responses that did not work well. Then come up with new ways to react. Ask yourself, what do you want to see happen? It takes strength to deal with difficulties, but no strength equals failure. Human events have consequences, but small changes lead to larger changes.

By Hilary ValdezSurvivor Outreach Coordinator

Identifying stressors in daily life can help improve emotional, mental health

Psychological maintenance is the key to a successful life. Taking control of your stress

response will prevent the ongo-ing wear and tear that breaks

down our physical and psycho-logical health.

NEWS4 March 18, 2010 TORII www.torii.army.mil

Photo by Tetsuo NakaharaNoah Clark, left, receives a toy from Robert McKeta, a commercial sponsorship specialist for the Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation, during a prize drawing at the Camp Zama Community Club March 6.

By Tetsuo NakaharaTorii Staff

NEO/SRP exercise to train community members for disaster preparedness By Tetsuo NakaharaTorii Staff

Arnn Elementary School will host its kick-off for the school re-registration process on April 23, 26 and 27 April. All students returning to Arnn will need to re-register for the upcoming school year, as will community and family members whose children will begin kindergarten in August. Hours of re-registration will be from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in room 119. Family members need to hand-carry the following documents with them at time of registration:

• The child’s updated immunization card. • An updated copy of sponsor’s orders or extension orders, if applicable. School-

aged children’s names must appear on the sponsor’s orders. • An employment verification letter for civilians if they are also hand-carrying

updated orders at the time of registration. • Updated contact information for the sponsor, spouse and emergency con-

tacts. For families who will be registering their child at Arnn for the very first time,

in addition to the supporting documents cited above, the parent must also hand-carry:

• The child’s passport or birth certificate for students in pre-kindergarten, kinder-garten and first grade. (The Department of Defense Education Activity’s enrollment policy currently states that children must be 5 years old by Sept. 1 to qualify for kindergarten, or 6 years old to qualify for first grade).

• The parent’s government identification card.• All hand-carried school records from the child’s previous school, if appli-

cable.Copies of all documentation will be made directly at the school at the time of

registration. Representatives from Zama Middle School and High School will also be at the

school on April 23 from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m. to assist in registering current sixth-graders to the seventh grade, as well as registering siblings who also attend Zama-based schools. Registering your child allows the school the opportunity to plan and accommodate your child’s grade level placement in time for the first day of school on Aug. 30, substantiates adequate staffing for all instructional programs for the upcoming school year, and determines funding for the next fiscal year to best support all aspects of your child’s experiences at Arnn. For more information, call Yoko Tanabe, school registrar, at 267-6602 or (042) 869-6602.

2010-2011 School Year Registration Information

Inaugural Army Family Appreciation Day offers free services to Zama families

Camp Zama observed its inaugural Army Family Appreciation Day by offering the community a variety of free services, leisure activities and prizes throughout the installation March 6.

The purpose of Army Family Apprecia-tion Day was to thank the Soldiers, civilians and family members stationed here for what they do to support Camp Zama and their country, said Jeffrey Wertz, director of the Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command here, which hosted the event.

A post-wide drawing that attracted hundreds of community members was held March 2, during which the winners received various prizes such as free massages and a tour of Chinatown and the Ueno Zoo.

A number of FMWR organizations kept their doors open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the event to offer free services, including bowling games, driving-range sessions and a round of golf at the Camp Zama Golf Course driving range, fishing at Dewey Pond, aqua massages, a variety of workshops at the Arts and Craft Center, and also some free services at the Automotive Skills Center.

Later in the evening, a free buffet was served at the Camp Zama Community Club’s Firelite Lounge, where community members lined up to fill their plates. Door

prizes for children and adults – including toys and restaurant coupons – were awarded at the CZCC. More than 350 people attended the event at the club.

“I won a free massage during the drawing and my wife enjoyed it very much,” said Mark Stoessel, a civilian assigned to the Directorate of Human Resources. “Even though it was raining all day, the buffet was great at the club. It was the great way to give back to the community.

“It helps MWR by letting people see the things that they offer,” added Stoessel. “It’s a good way to show the community that what they do is appreciated. It brings the community together. Everybody seemed to be getting along. During the giveaway, you saw people who were cheering for their friends who won even though they didn’t win.”

Command Sgt. Maj. Scarlett Stabel, the commander sergeant major of U.S. Army Garrison Japan, spoke during the buffet and thanked FMWR for making the event happen.

“We’re glad to be able to give back to the community,” said Stabel. “We hope to get a lot of feedback. We can come up with a lot of things [to provide the community], but it’s a question of whether those are things they want to do. So the more feedback we get, the better.”

FMWR is planning to open the grounds

of the CZGC for a one-day open picnic on April 4.

“There are many people who don’t play golf,” said Wertz, “and they never have a chance to see how beautiful the Camp Zama Golf Course is. It’ll be perfect to have a picnic or just take a walk on the golf course

with your family.”Also, this year, a flea market is scheduled

to be held during the Cherry Blossom Festi-val on April 3. Anyone interested in selling their items to on- and off-post guests can reserve a table. For more information, call Emmettee McNeill at 263-5712.

It is never too early to prepare for a natural disaster, and it is once again time for Camp Zama community members to prepare and update their personal evacuation procedures during the Soldier Readiness Processing and Noncombatant Evacuation Operation packet inspection.

U.S. Army Garrison Japan will conduct the SRP/NEO inspection March 29 through April 1 at the Camp Zama Community Cultural Center.

All military personnel will undergo SRP as scheduled by their respective units, and NEO packets will also be inspected during this time.

The NEO packet is a series of forms enabling evacuees to help post-wide emer-gency response units to account for their family members during a disaster or other emergency.

The NEO forms include various infor-mation to assist community members with their evacuation response, such as family identification, medical histories, and legal and financial information. Having this infor-

mation readily available in case of an emer-gency can help streamline post-emergency procedures and allow for a smoother process in the event of an evacuation.

Earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions are natural disasters that are com-mon to Japan. Readiness and preparedness will be key aspects during the exercise, said Kenji Haneda, coordinator of the USAG-J NEO Program assigned to the Director-ate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security here.

“It’s imperative for each family to have a NEO packet in order to ensure a smooth tran-sition once people arrive at an evacuation point,” Haneda said. “It is highly important to keep your NEO packet ready at all times for [the benefit of] your family.”

A community-wide NEO processing exercise is scheduled to be conducted May 18 at the Camp Zama Community Club.

Those who have questions concerning the specifics of the exercise can contact the USAG-J DPTMS Plans Office at 263-5623 and speak to Haneda.

NEO Forms can be found on the Camp Zama Intranet at https://intranet.zama.army.mil/CmdStaff/usagj/pt/neo.htm.

CommuNiTyTORII March 18, 2010 5www.torii.army.mil

SCHOOL NEWS

Photo by Tetsuo NakaharaMembers of the Tamagawa University E.T.C. performance group sing a song during their production of “Grease” March 6 at the Camp Zama Community Club here. The two-day performance at the CCC attracted more than 400 people.

Tamagawa E.T.C. performs “Grease”By Tetsuo NakaharaTorii Staff

Hundreds of spectators gave waves of applause to the Tamagawa University E.T.C. performance group during their production of the musical “Grease” March 6 and 7 at the Camp Zama Cultural Center here.

Tamagawa E.T.C. is an English theater performance club established at Tamagawa University in Machida City, Tokyo. The players have been performing musicals at Camp Zama twice a year – once each in the spring and fall – for more than 20 years.

The musical was performed in English by the Japanese students. Surprisingly, most of the members do not have English-speaking backgrounds other than the basic lessons offered at Japanese schools.

“One of our club’s main purposes is to perform musicals in front of native English spectators,” said Ryotaro Takada, the director of “Grease” and a senior at Tamagawa University. “It is our challenge to see how people in Camp Zama will react after seeing our performance, since we use a second language on the stage. We are not professionals, but we put all of our energy into making the musical happen. We really appreciate that Camp Zama offers us the opportunity to perform at the CCC.”

The performances at Camp Zama are the club’s major projects, and the spring per-formance is the bigger of the two, serving as the graduation performance for the senior members. Nine seniors out of 50 members will graduate from the university this year.

“It is our club’s fortune to keep this relationship with Camp Zama,” said Takada. “I will never forget the “Wiz” musical we played here two years ago. It was the first time for me to receive a standing ovation. “

It took the performers approximately one month to prepare for the production, includ-ing the lighting, set decoration and costumes. Practicing the English dialogue and singing was of course one of the most difficult aspects, said Go Tokunaga, a Tamagawa senior who played the role of Danny Zuko.

“We repeat the words and sing the songs, show it to the seniors in the club, and record with a voice recorder and listen over and over until we get it right,” said Tokunaga. “All of our practice and hard work paid off when children came up to us and asked for our autographs and pictures after the show. It’s a great feeling.”

During the two performances, the seats at the CCC were filled with Camp Zama com-munity members and some guests from Tamagawa. The classic songs, iconic costumes and 1950s set decoration transported the audience to the world of “Grease,” a 1972 musical later made into a popular film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

“It was wonderful,” said Lianne Whang, chief of the Clinical Support Division at

BG Crawford F. Sams U.S. Army Health Clinic. “This is the first time we came to see their performance. I liked the music and the energy; the dialogue and the songs were great, too.”

Zama Child Development Center:263-8081

SHA Child Development Center: 267-6153 mar. 19: Bigz and Lilz (Zama CDC only), 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. mar. 24: Yoga Day (Zama CDC only)

School Age Services: 267-6013 School Age Services (SAS) supplements the school schedule with a wide variety of after school activities for youth from 1st grade through 6th grade.SAS offers care for Before/After school, Hourly care Open Recreation Program, School Day Out and Summer Camp Program. Before/After school with options for before school only or after school only. Each of these options entitles program participants to full day care services during out of school periods, excluding Federal Holidays, during the school year. Additionally, separate SAS Camps were operated during Winter and Spring breaks for those patrons who normally do not require daily before and after school care. During the Summer Month, SAS operated a full day camp option, in eleven, one-week sessions.

SAS oPEN RECREATioN PRoGRAm: Parents! Are you looking for programs that your school-aged children can participate in? Children! Are you looking for things that will keep you active and busy outside of the house? If so, then the OPEN RECREATION PROGRAM events are for you! All events guarantee fun! School Age Services is offering open recreation opportunities in the weekday and Saturday afternoons for youth currently enrolled in grades one to six.

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 Visit the Web at www.arnn-es.pac.dodea.edu for information pertaining to John O. Arnn Elementary.

Sure Start:Sure Start applications for the 2009/10 school year are now available at Arnn Elementary School. Families whose children will be 4 years old by Sept. 1 and meet some of the eligibility criterion are encouraged to apply. These criterion include: children of low birth rates, child has a parent who was a teenager when the first child was born, child has a parent whose primary language is not English, child has a parent who has not graduated high school, child is in family headed by a single parent or dual military, child in a family with E-1 to E-4 or GS-1 to GS-4 or NSPS pay band 1 or NAF-1 or NAF-2 equivalents take first priority. (E-5 to E-6 or GS 5 to GS 6 or NAF 3-4 take second priority, E-7 to E-9 or GS-7 to GS-9 or NAF 3-4 rank equivalents take third priority). For more information, call the school at 267-6602.

Zama American Middle School: 263-4040 Zama American middle School Parent Teacher organization (ZMS PTO) is accepting membership applications for the current school year 2009/2010 and next school year 2010/2011. Parents & teachers of current 7th & 8th grade students at Zama Middle School, as well as parents of current 6th Grade students (future ZMS students) are encouraged to join and support ZMS PTO. Please contact ZMS PTO at: zmspto@gmail.com

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: 263-4500u-turn Program: A new program starting today aims to help the Camp Zama community’s youth succeed academically. The U-turn program is designed for youths to get peer tutoring; get help with college preparation and career exploration; scholarships and financial aid application assistance; and staff and volunteer support. A bus back to SHA and Atsugi will be provided every night at 8 p.m. The U-turn program will be available at the Camp Zama Youth Center every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6 – 8 p.m. For more information, call 263-4500.

6 March 18, 2010 TORII

TRAVEL & CULTURETORII March 18, 2010 7www.torii.army.mil

YOKOHAMA: The city by the bay

Yokohama’s Landmark Tower, at 971 feet tall, is Japan’s largest building and the signature building of Yoko-hama’s skyline. It is filled with restaurants, shops and offices. It also features the world’s fastest elevator.

The Red Brick Warehouse, a renovated custom’s house, was rebuilt to feature restaurants and shops as well as to host various cultural festivals throughout the year including jazz concerts and a large Octoberfest.

The Yokohama skyline comes alive at night and is a must-see for every visitor to Japan.

Yokohama takes pride in its international flavor and hosts numerous parades throughout the year. One of the biggest parades is the Yokohama International Parade, pictured here, every May.

The passenger ship “Hikawa Maru” once ferried passengers to and from Seattle. It is now moored along the promenade of Yamashita Park and has been converted to a museum.

Yokohama, Japan’s “second city,” offers some of the best attractions, restaurants and activities in the entire country. The city has remained a 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 Kana-gawa Prefecture, since the port opened to outsiders in the Meiji Era. The port of Yokohama celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2009 and the next 150 years look just as bright as Japan’s largest port continues to expand and develop.

Over the past 20 years, an intensive construction and development plan has taken place on Yokohama’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 architectur-ally 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. 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 several other museums including the Yokohama Museum of Art and dozens of restaurants around the complex.

Moving southeast along the waterfront, visitors can visit the Aka Ringo Shoko, or Red Brick Warehouse, for more shopping, restaurants and massive outdoor 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. The futuristic design and landscaping of the pier make it a fantastic place to sit and watch the hundreds of vessels making their way around the immense harbor. The pier is a prime location for fireworks viewing in the summer months.

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 between 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 various ferries and dinner 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. The Yamashita park area is also lined with older hotels that have rooftop beer gardens and restaurants that open for the summer months to provide a fantastic view of the harbor and the Yokohama skyline.

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 of not only Asia, but the world.

By Christopher BushUSAG-J Deputy Public Affairs Officer

SPORTS & FITNESS8 March 18, 2010 TORII www.torii.army.mil

Support helps children cope with deploymentsBy Elaine WilsonAmerican Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON – Children with a strong nondeployed parent or caregiver and a solid support system have a better ability to cope with deployments, two recent studies have shown.

Anita Chandra, a behavioral scientist from Rand Corp., and Leonard Wong, a research professor from the Army War College, highlighted the findings of these studies during testimony to the House Armed Services Committee March 9. Both studies focused on military children ages 11 to 17.

“We had a very strong relationship between the caregiver’s mental health and their ability to cope as well as the ability for their children to handle some of the deploy-ment stressors,” said Chandra, describing the findings of the study “Children on the Homefront: The Experiences of Children from Military Families.”

This independent study included more than 1,500 military families, focusing on the well-being of youth ages 11 to 17 and their

nondeployed parent or caregiver.The study’s goal was to show how

children from military families function with respect to academics, peer and fam-ily relations, general emotional difficulties and overall problem behaviors, Chandra explained. The study found that, when compared to a sample of U.S. children, military children have a higher average rate of emotional difficulties at each age, she said.

Older children and girls, particularly, had a greater number of difficulties during deployment, she noted. And the total months the parent was deployed, rather than the number of deployments, was related to a greater number of challenges as well, she added.

Relating to family strength, “we found that caregivers with poorer mental health themselves reported more child difficulties during deployment,” Chandra said.

Chandra suggested that families may benefit from targeted support to deal with stressors at later points in the deployment, and not simply during initial stages. And, “families in which nondeployed caregivers

are struggling with their own mental health may need more support for both caregiver and child,” she said.

Wong also found a strong connection be-tween family strength and children’s ability to cope with deployment in the Army study, “The Effects of Multiple Deployments on Army Adolescents.”

For the study, an anonymous, Web-based survey was issued to a random sample of more than 2,000 active-duty Soldiers, as well as to more than 700 Army spouses and about 550 military children between ages 11 and 17. The study focused on what factors might influence the magnitude of stress related to deployments, he said.

Wong found that the No. 1 factor in mitigating deployment stress was a child’s participation in activities, such as sports, followed by a strong family foundation. Activities serve “as a distraction to the negative feelings associated with a deploy-ment,” he explained.

Another, unexpected predictor of de-ployment stress was a child’s belief that the American public supports the war, he said.

“Sports as a diversion for deployment stress, that makes sense and youth sports programs are relatively easy to create,” he said. “But that the strength of a child’s perception of the American support for the war would be associated with their deploy-ment stress was a surprise, and it’s a much more complex issue to deal with.”

In addition to looking at what factors influence the magnitude of stress, the study also examined how well adolescents coped with deployments overall. Along with the previous factors such as strong families, activities and a child’s belief that America supports the war, the largest predictor of stress was a child’s belief that the Soldier is making a difference in the world.

This finding is surprising, yet intuitive, Wong noted. “These children understand that the Army is a ‘greedy’ institution de-manding all of time, energy and focus of a Soldier,” he said. “They also understand from personal experience that the family is a greedy institution that requires constant attention and care.

See SUPPORT, Page 9

Adam Rivera, right, of the Yokota Panthers, dribbles the ball past a Zama American High School defender during a soccer game held Saturday at Naval Air Facility Atsugi. Yokota won the game 3-1.

On the ballPhoto by Anastasia Rodgers

SPORTS & FITNESSTORII March 18, 2010 9www.torii.army.mil

Experienced and beginner exercisers alike can benefit greatly from setting goals. Are you exercising to lose weight or simply to stay healthy? Are you training for your first marathon or trying to beat your best time? Are you an aspiring bodybuilder or are you interested in gaining more strength for everyday activities? Asking yourself these types of questions can help guide your progress and ensure better results.

Long- and short-term goals Remember that goal-setting is a series

of steps that everyone must do. We have to graduate from elementary school before we go to college, so the same principal applies to our workouts. It is important to establish both long- and short-term goals to increase

the likelihood of success. By identifying the main goal of an exercise program, it becomes easier to identify the short-term goals needed to accomplish the long-term goal at hand.

For example, let’s say your goal is to run your first marathon, but the longest distance you can currently run is two miles. Without a game plan of how you will actually achieve this goal, running a marathon seems almost impossible. But with the help of smaller short-term goals – such as joining a training program or learning to run progressively longer distances over an extended period of time – running a marathon seems much more manageable.

By establishing more realistic short-term

goals leading up to the long-term goal, you are better able to track your progress, stay motivated, and succeed.

Staying on trackOne of the most effective ways of

managing short-term goals is to keep an exercise journal or planner. Journals serve as a constant reminder of what lies ahead, while also providing positive reinforcement of all you have accomplished thus far.

For every activity or behavior performed as part of the long-term goal, write down when, where and for how long the activity was performed. Also, take a moment to write down how you felt after each activ-ity. Jotting down mental notes can help troubleshoot problems you may encounter along the way.

The end resultSetting multiple short-term goals and

keeping track of your progress over time may seem tedious at first, but the end result is worth the effort. What’s the payoff? By setting and achieving smaller, more manage-able goals, you’ll never lose sight of your ultimate exercise goal.

Setting, keeping goals key to maintaining fitness level

Fitness FilesBy Jane KupkowskiCamp Zama Fitness Coordinator

SUPPORT, From page 8

“They see deployed Soldiers caught in the middle of both noble institutions,” he added.

Looking ahead, Wong noted the importance of building strong families and focusing on activities such as sports to help mitigate stress. A child’s belief system, however, may be a more complicated factor to tackle, he said.

“The factors of the children’s beliefs, what they feel about the Army, what they feel about the nation, make a difference,” Wong said. “And so how do you influence a child’s beliefs? That’s a

critical question and that will have us thinking for a long time.” While the studies are useful, more work remains to be done on

behalf of military children, Chandra said. “Both of our studies really point to the needs of older youth,”

she said. “What we hope from this work is that it starts to identify some of the needs of older youth and teenagers so we that can look at the programs we currently have and try and figure out if we are aligning our programs with those needs, particularly with adolescents, and particularly those older adolescents.

“Despite the contributions of previous studies, significant knowl-edge gaps remain, especially for older children,” she added.

All-Star Football GameMembers of the Zama American High School Trojans football team will compete in the upcoming Camellia Bowl on Sunday at Kawasaki Stadium. Camp Zama will provide buses to and from the game. The buses will depart at 11:30 a.m. for the 2 p.m. kickoff. The cost is 500 yen for admission. Call 263-4500 to reserve bus seating.

Cherry Bloosom Adult 7K Run & 3K WalkThere will be a Cherry Blossom Adult 7K Run & 3K Walk on Saturday, 3 April, 1000 in front of the Community Activity Center. The fee is $15 for SOFA Personnel and Y2,000 for Non SOFA Personnel. The first 650 paid runners/walkers who register will be guaranteed a T-Shirt. Please register at the Yano Fitness Center by 1 April. For more information call 263-7980.

Youth Sports and Fitness:Baseball, Softball Sign-upSignups 1 March - 2 April. The age groups for baseball are co-ed division: 5-6, 7-8, Boys 9-10, 11-12 and 13-15 year olds. The age groups for girls softball are 9-11 and 12-15.

Sports Photos WantedThe Torii newspaper wants to publish your action sports photos for sports of all ages, all seasons. 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.Nakahara4@us.army.mil.

Your Weekly Dose

Suicide PreventionThe USARJ Community has 24/7 access to assistance for suicide prevention by dialing 911 for immediate on-site assistance for those who may hurt themself or someone else, call 263-4127 for medical, behavioral or chaplain advice, or 145 for direct access to Military OneSource. Military OneSource representatives will provide support through advice and counseling to the population previously listed. These services are also available for our USARJ community members in Okinawa.

Emergency NumbersIn case of a medical emergency, all cell phone users stationed on mainland U.S. Army Japan installations may program the following number on their speed dial: 046-407-2911. Land line users on all U.S. Army Japan and Garrison installations, including those located outside the Kanagawa Prefecture, may dial 911. SOFA-status members living off-post may dial 119.

Medical AdviceFor expedient medical advice 24/7, call the BG Sams Health Clinic at 263-4127. After hours, calling is faster than walking to the clinic.

Sports Briefs

Classifieds & Movies 10 March 18, 2010 TORII www.torii.army.mil

friday6:30 p.m...........Alice in Wonderland (PG) 109 minutes9 p.m................................Avatar (PG-13) 161 minutes

saturday6:30 p.m............Alice in Wonderland (PG)109 minutes 9 p.m........................The Book of Eli (R) 118 minutes

sunday3:30 p.m...........Alice in Wonderland (PG) 109 minutes6:30 p.m...........Alice in Wonderland (PG) 109 minutes

Movie sCHedUle aTsUGi Cinema 77

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

saGaMiHaRa

7 p.m.............................Tooth Fairy (PG) 102 minutes9:30 p.m.................Edge of Darkness (R) 142 minutes

saturday3:30 p.m...........Alice in Wonderland (PG) 109 minutes7 p.m.....................When in Rome (PG-13) 91 minutes9:30 p.m.................Edge of Darkness (R) 142 minutes

sunday3 p.m.............................Tooth Fairy (PG) 102 minutes5:30 p.m................When in Rome (PG-13) 91 minutes8 p.m. ...................Edge of Darkness (R) 142 minutes

friday

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 263-3608. 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 in the Microsoft Exchange public e-mail folders and on the Internet at www.usarj.army.mil/scripts/jn/cpo/index.asp. Application forms are available on the same site. Selection status can also be checked. For more information, call 263-3325.

Jobs

OthersWanted

Other local positions

Pets

Vehicles for sale

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

For sale

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, $9.58 - $17.09, Closes: Open Continuous

Cook (CYs), NA-04, Flex, $10.01, Closes: Open Continuous

Recreation assistant (lifeguard/Pool operator), RD, NF-02, $9.26, Closes: Open Continuous

Recreation assistant (lifeguard), RD, Flex, NF-02, $9.29, Closes: Open Continuous

food service Worker (Bowling), BD, Flex, NA-02, $8.77, Closes: Open Continuous

operation assistant (Community Club), BD, Flex, NF-1101-01, $9.00, Closes: Open Continuous

Business Manager (food services), (Golf course), RFT, NF-3, $28,000 - $32,000, Closes: March 21, 2010

animal caretaker (Kennel), Flex, NA-02, $9.48, Closes: March 24, 2010

lead Child and Youth Program assistant (CYs), CY-02, $13.14 - $17.09, Closes: Open until filled

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.

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.

Physical Therapist, intermittent (240 hours): Provides physical therapy service in the areas of physical disabilities, neuromuscular and psychosocial dysfunctions in patients ranging from adolescence to the very elderly. Must have license to practice physical therapy in the U.S. 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.

Physical Therapist, intermittent (240 hours): Provides physical therapy service in the areas of physical disabilities, neuromuscular and psychosocial dysfunctions in patients ranging from adolescence to the very elderly. Must have license to practice physical therapy in the U.S. 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.

instructor/facilitator: Camp Zama Education Center is looking for a Instructor/Facilitator to conduct daytime Online Academic Skills Course formerly called FAST. Bachelor’s Degree and Teaching License/Certificate preferred.Will be paid for 240 classroom hours per year. Call 263-5055 for more information.

instructor/facilitator: Torii Station Education Center is looking for a Instructor/Facilitator to conduct daytime Online Academic Skills Course formerly called FAST. Bachelor’s Degree and Teaching License/Certificate preferred.Will be paid for classroom hours taught per year.Call 263-5055 for more information.

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.

The Women, infant, and Children, (WIC) overseas program at Camp Zama offers valuable nutritional information and food subsidizes. For more information, call 263-8960.

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.

fUReai, Japanese Personnel Newsletter is issued and distributed electronically. This newsletter is for MLC/MC/IHA personnel and US personnel who have Japanese subordinate employees. It is available at https://intranet.zama.army.mil/?linkid=fureai.

Rising Sun Lodge 151, F&AM. Stated Meeting 1st Thursday of every month at the Masonic Bldg, Sagami Depot. For more information contact: rsl151@gmail.com; website: risingsunlodge151.com; or call Dave 080-3467-7881.

99 subaru forrester: Black, AWD, clean, well maintained, low mileage, fun to drive. 1+ yr on JCI. Selling b/c spouse PCS’d. $3,800. Call/ email Andrew at 08033368305 or andrewmooreusma@gmail.com

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

Part-time english teacher: Pay is ¥16,000 to work four times per month. Two Mondays from 4 – 6:10 p.m., one Tuesday from 9 – 10 p.m. and one Friday from 7 – 8 p.m. Located 15 minutes driving distance from SHA in Minami-Rinkan area. For more information, E-mail Kaz at superkids-csc1190@nifty.com.

Officials: Officials for all intramural sports (flag-football, softball, basketball, & volleyball), aerobic & yoga instructors, fitness trainers and massage therapists. For more information, call 263-4664 / 7980.

sports photos: The Torii Newspaper wants to publish your action sports photos for sports of all ages, all seasons. 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 3mb or more to tetsuo.nakahara4@us.army.mil.

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.

english teacher wanted: Seeking conversational English teacher for the summer. A group of five women would like to meet every Monday, time and place is negotiable. Please contact Denise at denisemrobertson@yahoo.com

english teacher: Sagami Home English School is looking for Native English speakers to teach English in their homes on the weekends. Please

contact Alma Smith at: a_rosa_s@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.

New Bicycle: New Japanese folding bicycle with carrying bag. Paid $250 but am asking

$125, Call 263-5979 (4)

Tv: 32” HDTV JVC LCD Flat Screen TV w/ HDMI. $275.00 OBO, Call: 0462-93-2979 or 263-4619, Email: arjay@jcom.home.ne.jp (4)

1 ea afN decoder to receive afN Tv Channels off-Base: $275.00 OBO.Tel: 263-4619 or 046-293-2979. email: arjay@jcom.home.ne.jp (4)

CoMMUNiTY CaleNdaRwww.torii.army.mil TORII March 18, 2010 11

Eagle 810, AFN Tokyo

What’s Happening Outside the Gate?

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

UpcomingOngoing EventsPost-Combat Stress SupportA special support group to assist those experiencing symptoms of post-combat stress is offered from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays in the community room at Army Community Services. For more information, call Gary Woods at 263-8091.

New Parent Support ProgramThe New Parent Support Program, a division of the Family Advocacy Program, specializes in assisting and offering services to new and expecting parents. Play Morning, an interactive playgroup for parents and children up to age 6 is held 9:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays at the Zama Chapel and the same time every second, third and fourth Thursday at SHA CDC. Breast Feeding Support Groups are held on the first Thursday of the month, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at ACS and the third Monday of the month, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at SHA CDC. Baby Bundles is a program that provides information and supplies for new and expecting parents.They are available, along with electric breast pumps, for loan by contacting 263-2382.

Camp Zama Red Cross ClassesThe Camp Zama/Naval Air Facility Atsugi continues to offer classes to the community. For March, the following courses will be offered: Mar. 6 First Aid, for the CPR/AED (at NAF Atsugi), Mar. 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 for the Instructors’ Course, Mar. 8, 10, 12 and Mar 20 First Aid, CPR/AED at Camp Zama. Pre-registration is required for all courses. Call 263-3166 for more information.

Free Bowling ThursdaysZama Bowling Center is open for free bowling from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays to promote family time. Free bowling is also offered from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday with a lunch purchase of $4.50 or more. Pre-paid bowling cards are also available. For more information, call 263-4780.

CENTRAL ISSUE FACILITYThe CIF will be closed to conduct required semi-annual inventory form March 22 - 25.We will be open for emergency issues and turn-ins. For emergencies, please call Mr. Bishop at 263-5880 or Mr. Sakata at 263-7454.

Army Family Action PlanAFAP is a year-round process. To submit and AFAP issue, log onto http://www.mwrjapan.jp.pac.army.mil and click on “Submit an AFAP Community Idea/Concern.” Issues can be submitted anonymously and will be sent directly to the AFAP program manager.

Military Personnel DivisionThe Military Personnel Division (MPD) will be conducting a Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP) exercise from 29 March – 2 April which will result in limited services during this timeframe. Please contact the MPD at 263-397

St. Patrick’s Day Parade @ Yokohama Motomachi Shopping Street, Mar 20

OMOTENASHI Experience—enjoy Japanese sake, food, and geisha per-formance @ Fukutoku-juku, Tokyo, Mar 20 Check http: / /www.tokyo-kimonoclub.com/pdf /omotenashiomote0905.pdf or e-mail infor@tokyo-kimonoclub.com for more info/questions.

The Animal-Dressed Brass Quintet “Zoolasian Brass” Live Performance @ Yokohama Zoological Gardens, Mar 28 The band members including the conductor dress as dif-ferent animals while playing music arranged in a classical or jazz style

Premium Philippine Fest @ Tokyo Big Sight, Mar 20 http://philfiesta2010.com

Mar 26-28 Japan Flower Design Con-test 2010 @ Pacifico Yokohama

Travel & CulTure12 March 18, 2010 TORII www.torii.army.mil

Yasukuni Shrine offers glimpse at Japan’s past By Christopher BushUSAG-J Deputy Public Affairs Officer

At the heart of central Tokyo stands the Yasukuni Shrine, a sprawling complex dedicated to the 2.5 million Japanese military personnel and civilians who have died during wartime since the Meiji Restoration in the mid-1800s. Yasukuni

Jinja, which is officially known as the Shrine of Peace for the Nation, was first dedicated in 1879 during the height of the modernization period of Japan.

The shrine, located near Ichigaya train station and across from the famed Budokan concert hall, is often used as a rallying point for ultra-nationalists and militant far right -wing activists in Japan, and official visits to the shrine by Japanese prime ministers often spark strong condemnation from other countries in Asia. The shrine itself was run by the Japanese army until 1945 and it is viewed by many people to be still under the dark shadow of imperialistic militancy. However, if you extract the political overtones and connotations of Yasukuni, the shrine is aesthetically pleasing and, along with the Yushukan military history museum, makes for an interesting afternoon visit. The wide avenues and open spaces make it a perfect place to enjoy a walk or to enjoy some mo-ments of quiet reflection.

As Japan shed its feudal past during the modernizing Meiji emperor’s reign begin-ning in the 1860s and as Shinto became the official state religion with the emperor fully deified, militant forces inside the country began to look outside the Japanese archipelago for conquests. After the wars with China in the 1890s and the triumph over Czarist Rus-sia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905, Japan began to enshrine all Japanese killed in military conflicts at Yasukuni. Soldiers departing for distant battlefields announced to their comrades, “Let’s meet at Yasukuni.”

The Yushukan military history museum holds hundreds of interesting military artifacts that date back as far as the late Tokugawa Period that include samurai swords and armor. You will also find uniforms and cannons from the Meiji Era and thousands of artifacts from World War II that include trains from the Burmese campaign and a Japanese Zero airplane and a mini sub designed for suicide attacks. The museum’s explanations of the war tend to be Japan-centric and slightly nationalistic, but the museum is still a fascinat-ing destination for any history buff.

A massive steel torii gate stands at the front entrance to the large shrine complex and a wide avenue lined with toro, or stone lanterns, that lead to the main shrine. The Yushukan museum is located adjacent to the main shrine. On weekends and national holidays, the shrine will swell with thousands of people and will also feature a flea market. On some national holidays, large but peaceful demonstrations will often take place and it is best to avoid the shrine during these demonstrations. Despite the polarizing political associa-tions of the Yasukuni Jinja, it remains an interesting spot for visitors to Tokyo to come and catch a glimpse at some moments of Japanese history. Photos by Christopher Bush

Photo by Wilmer German