Migration
Yokota school's annual festival teaches students about Asian, Pacific cultures
Stars and Stripes
May 5, 2017
Students at Joan K. Mendel Elementary School at Yokota Air Base, Japan, watch karate students perform an advanced kata during the school's JaPANDAsia cultural festival, Friday, May 5, 2017. (Leon Cook/Stars and Stripes)
Students at Joan K. Mendel Elementary School at Yokota Air Base, Japan, watch karate students perform an advanced kata during the school's JaPANDAsia cultural festival, Friday, May 5, 2017. (Leon Cook/Stars and Stripes)
Volunteers from the nearby community of Ome demonstrate taiko drumming during the JaPANDAsia festival at Joan K. Mendel Elementary School at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Friday, May 5, 2017. (Leon Cook/Stars and Stripes)
A fifth-grader from Joan K. Mendel Elementary School at Yokota Air Base, Japan, tries her hand at a traditional Polynesian percussion instrument, used to stay in rhythm while dancing, during the school's annual JaPANDAsia festival, Friday, May 5, 2017. (Leon Cook/Stars and Stripes)
Students from Joan K. Mendel Elementary School at Yokota Air Base, Japan, model traditional Japanese clothing during the school's annual JaPANDAsia fashion show, Friday, May 5, 2017. (Leon Cook/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Students at Yokota’s Joan K. Mendel Elementary School learned about Asian and Pacific Island culture Friday during the school’s 14th annual JaPANDAsia festival.
Volunteers from neighboring cities gathered at the air base in western Tokyo, home of U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force, for the event, whose name is a blend of Japan, Asia and panda, the school’s mascot.
Festivities kicked off with a morning fashion show — students strutted down a catwalk while modeling a range of Polynesian, Filipino, Korean, Chinese and Japanese clothing styles.
The students, ranging from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade, also saw a variety of cultural dance, music, cooking and martial arts demonstrations.
The Hawaiian dance presentation was a hit with fifth-graders; they hooted and cheered when classmates tried the percussion instruments hula dancers use in their performance.
Other activities included a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, taiko drumming, origami, calligraphy, flower arranging and a magic show.