Varrick Strong, 6, throws beanbags at a dunk tank to sink his dad, Senior Master Sgt. James Strong of the 374th Maintenance Squadron. The dunk tank was part of Yokota Air Base’s 2006 Japanese-American Friendship Festival on Saturday. (Christopher B. Stoltz / S&S)
Varrick Strong, 6, throws beanbags at a dunk tank to sink his dad, Senior Master Sgt. James Strong of the 374th Maintenance Squadron. The dunk tank was part of Yokota Air Base’s 2006 Japanese-American Friendship Festival on Saturday. (Christopher B. Stoltz / S&S)
Japanese citizens and Yokota Air Base residents swarm the flightline of the base during Saturday’s festival. (Christopher B. Stoltz / S&S)
Japanese citizens enter the festival grounds at Yokota Air Base on Saturday. (Christopher B. Stoltz / S&S)
Residents of Yokota Air Base and Japanese visitors check out aircraft displayed at the festival on Saturday. (Christopher B. Stoltz / S&S)
Vistors at Yokota’s festival tour the inside of a base hangar. (Christopher B. Stoltz / S&S)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Good food, good entertainment and good friends: These were among attractions at Yokota Air Base’s 2006 Japanese-American Friendship Festival on Saturday.
The sun pounded down on the thousands of Japanese people who walked to the festival along the base flightline from Yokota’s Supply Gate. Hats, sun umbrellas and sunscreen were vital defenses for browsing the displayed airplanes and booths.
But Col. Scott Goodwin found one of the more unusual ways to beat the heat. The 374th Airlift Wing commander offered himself up as the dunkee in a dunking booth.
Most people at the event walked in from the base gates, but several airmen hitched a ride in a UH-1N helicopter. As it hovered above the flightline, they slid down a cord onto the ground.
The helicopter was the first of a series of aircraft that roared above the crowd in demonstration flights. Throughout the day, as officials announced the planes’ arrival, swarms of people would shift toward the flightline to catch the action.
Certain booths consistently had a line of customers, like the one sponsored by Yokota’s Filipino-American Association booth. Even before the dinner rush, the group had sold more than 1,000 steaks.
Master Sgt. Mario Lapurga from the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron said the marinated steaks and side dishes of rice were the secrets to their success. “The Japanese people really like the rice,” he said. “Earlier when we ran out of it, the line really died down.
“Last year, we prepared 1,400 steaks but this year we have 2,000 for the two days. I think there are more people this year.”
Lapurga said an extended weather forecast had predicted light showers but being a Friendship Festival veteran, he prepared for the sweltering heat.
“It’s hot! It was the same last year,” he said. “It’s always the same.”
Over by the kids’ attractions Sarah Bragdon said she wished it was cloudy. She, her husband and two children braved the heat, because it was an easy way to experience Japanese culture and because she’d never been to the Friendship Festival.
“Getting off base as much as possible is the best thing to do to learn about the Japanese culture,” Bragdon said. “But this is an opportunity to experience the culture on base.”
She did notice one slight difference compared to festivals she’s been to in the States.
“There’s more food at all the festivals in Japan … which is good!” Bragdon said.
Yokota’s 3rd Annual Strongman Challenge at noon and a performance by the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia were among events scheduled for Sunday. A fireworks display was to conclude the festival Sunday evening.
