MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI , Japan -- The Boy Scouts of America and their families here participated in a Japanese Mochi Festival as part of the third U.S./Japanese Boy Scout exchange in Iwakuni City Sunday.
The event marked the first time the Japanese Scouts have invited their American counterparts to a cultural event outside the Station.
"It's a great opportunity for the boys and their families to get a better understanding and appreciation for the Japanese culture," said Mary Jane Johnson, Cub master and troop committee member. "It's also a great way to get over the language barrier."
The day's events kicked off with a traditional Boy Scout opening ceremony given by the Japanese Scouts. Once the scouts gave their salute it was time for the festivities to begin.
According to Keiko Rossi, volunteer translator for the event, the Mochi Festival is a customary Japanese holiday.
"The annual Mochi Festival is a celebration of the rice harvest," she said. "The rice is steamed then pounded with a wooden mallet. After the mochi rice obtains the correct form it can be rolled into balls and eaten."
Both the American and Japanese Scouts didn't seem to have any problems enjoying their work.
"Flour was flying this way and that," said Johnson. "All of the kids tried the foreign food and some even seemed to like it."
The day's events concluded with the Scouts and family members partaking in a mock ninja battle and a pokorai race.
"The pokorai race is a relay race where each competitor has wooden blocks on his feet and strings to hold on to. The person then has to walk a certain distance without taking their feet out of the blocks," said Rossi.
The games might have been different to the American Scouts' standards, but the outcome was the same.
"The kids seemed to have a great time and so did the parents," said Lauri Nightingale, a parent of one of the Scouts.
Johnson couldn't agree more, "These events are great for everybody and I can't wait to have another one."