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Photo Information

Photo by LCpl. Cristin K. Bartter

Americans dress for Kintai Bridge Festival

29 Apr 2005 | Lance Cpl. Cristin K. Bartter Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Thousands of visitors congregated at the 28th annual Kintai Bridge Festival, to soak up the sun and Japanese culture while they watched the Daimyo and Young Warriors Procession Parade, April 29. 

The significance of the festival is to pray for the communities’ safety and the development of the city.

“The festival is a way to promote Iwakuni City by getting a lot of tourists to come,” said Yoshiko Kihara, Station cultural specialist. 

Over the past 20 years Americans have volunteered to be a part of the parade.  This year, ten Station volunteers participated in the festival, getting the opportunity to walk with the locals in traditional Japanese costume as part of the parade. The women volunteers were clothed as maids in kimonos and headdresses while the men were dressed as samurai guards, a dignitary and a caretaker. Their costumes consisted of garments, weaponry and covers that were worn in the 17th century.

While a group of local Japanese volunteers, dressed as Samurais, shot at targets enacting olden times, the parade moved across the 210-meter long Kintai bridge.

“I am dressed as a caretaker for the parade,” said Cpl. Daniel M. Gray, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212 air framer. “The garments are very tight around the waist, especially where they put the samurai swords.”

Everyone clapped, cheered and took pictures as the Americans, in step with the Japanese, walked across the bridge, decked in the same fashion.

“They look like actual samurais,” said Lance Cpl. Casey Palka, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron aviation specialist. “The locals here can’t seem to get enough of the Americans in the Japanese traditional attire. There isn’t a person out here who isn’t encouraging them.”

“Everyone kept stopping us to take our picture,” said Sgt. Roger D. Pratt, H&HS diary chief and dignitary for the parade. “I think they all enjoyed our presence and I know that I had a blast.”

As the flashes from thousands of cameras flickered in their eyes, volunteers for the festival were reminded of the reasons why they chose to participate in a culture event such as this.

“I came out here because I wanted to get involved with the local community,” Pratt said. “To be a part of Japanese traditions and customs is a privilege that I think all Marines should partake in. This is our way of letting the locals here know that we Americans are interested in their way of life.”

“It’s important for Americans and Japanese to keep that close relationship,” Gray added. “Events like these not only strengthen that bond but it also enlightens each society to a different culture.”