MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau in conjunction with Iwakuni City, the Municipal Board of Education and the station are co-sponsoring a U.S.-Japan Friendship Exchange in November and are asking local residents interested in participating to fill out a sign-up sheet at the Public Affairs Office here no later than Sept. 24.
Locals interested in signing up can call 253-5551 or come by Building 1 Room 216 to fill out a sign-up sheet.
The Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau has organized and scheduled the event for Nov. 21 to provide a good opportunity for local Japanese and American residents to develop long lasting relationships through art-and-craft projects, games, and other events and activities.
Station and local Japanese children can also register to meet Nov. 7 before the actual friendship exchange to make Rendakos, or Japanese multi-layered kites, and Christmas wreaths together. Children will have time to play and fly the kites and present the Christmas wreaths to Kawashimo Elementary School as gifts on Nov. 21.
A shuttle bus will be made available to participants going to and from the air station and the school.
On the actual day of the exchange slated for Nov. 21, American and Japanese parents can cook together with ingredients and cooking utensils provided by the organizers.
American fathers will be able to teach their hotdog cooking skills to Japanese fathers while their children play in bounce houses, basketball and other games together.
A Japanese chef will be on hand to teach American mothers how to prepare a local delicacy.
Families will be able to participate in bun-biting races, tugs-of-war, kickball games and other activities.
The event is scheduled to take place on the Northside field here and will be moved to a nearby indoor facility in the event of rain.
The Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau and the Japanese Ministry of Defense believe deepening the bilateral understanding between the status of forces agreement personnel and local residents around the station is important and want to welcome everyone to sign up for the fun.