IWAKUNI CITY, Japan -- Residents of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni volunteered at Josho Hoikuen Preschool in Iwakuni City, Japan, May 9, 2017.
The Marine Memorial Chapel at MCAS Iwakuni offers community relations volunteer opportunities every month that service members can take advantage of to strengthen the relationship between the air station and the local community.
“We’ve had this program for more than 10 years,” said Shiori Minato, an administration specialist with Marine Memorial Chapel. “Visiting the preschool builds a relationship between local Iwakuni citizens and service members from base.”
Introductions were made by participants as part of the event. They sat in front of the class while students asked questions ranging from their favorite food to the names of people they care about the most.
Once every one was familiar with each other, students were shown how to dance and sing along with “The Hokey Pokey” and “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.”
After they were introduced to American music, they continued with an educational game. As music played, students ran in a circle and when the teacher held up a card the children had to find a group of people to match the number on the card and sit down.
“Usually we have more educational games like learning “ABCs” or how to count,” said Minato. “This is the first visit of the school year since Japanese schools start in April, so we tried to make it a little more fun.”
These activities not only help create bonds among service members and the students, but it also builds a relationship with the children’s parents.
“I believe this is a step to coexist with MCAS Iwakuni,” said Eiko Isomoto, the principal of Josho Hoikuen Preschool. “What the children did today will be conveyed to their parents, then the relationship will go deeper and deeper.”
The interaction between the volunteers and preschoolers helps give the volunteers and younger generation in Japan a better understanding of each other’s culture.
“When children see Americans out in town they may not have a good image toward them,” said Minato. “But when they spend time with Marines or sailors it gives them a positive impression, which makes building relationships easier when they get older.”