Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Lance Cpl. Michelle Thach interacts with the Japanese children at Josho Hoikuen school in Iwakuni, Japan, Tuesday. The children flocked to Thach as she played and jokedy around with them. Different members from the Installation Personnel Administration Center here visit the school once a month to spend time with the children. - Lance Cpl. Michelle Thach interacts with the Japanese children at Josho Hoikuen school in Iwakuni, Japan, Tuesday. The children flocked to Thach as she played and jokedy around with them. Different members from the Installation Personnel Administration Center here visit the school once a month to spend time with the children.

Allen Strawbridge, the Matthew C. Perry High School music director, speaks to the students from his music department before the Winter Extravaganza begins at the Marine Memorial Chapel here Dec. 8. - Allen Strawbridge, the Matthew C. Perry High School music director, speaks to the students from his music department before the Winter Extravaganza begins at the Marine Memorial Chapel here Dec. 8.

Gina Friedhoff, counselor at Matthew C. Perry Elementary School, explains the objects on the table in front of her as she teaches the Ideas That Cook with Kids class at the M.C. Perry Elementary School here Dec. 7. - Gina Friedhoff, counselor at Matthew C. Perry Elementary School, explains the objects on the table in front of her as she teaches the Ideas That Cook with Kids class at the M.C. Perry Elementary School here Dec. 7.

Local Japanese nationals teach classmates how to prepare lotus root, a popular food throughout Iwakuni and Japan, in a cooking class provided by the Cultural Adaptation Program here Dec. 1. Approximately 10 women participated in making lotus root pizza dough, sauteed lotus root and lotus root salad. Participants prepared each meal in groups of two or three and were helped by at least one other Japanese national. - Local Japanese nationals teach classmates how to prepare lotus root, a popular food throughout Iwakuni and Japan, in a cooking class provided by the Cultural Adaptation Program here Dec. 1. Approximately 10 women participated in making lotus root pizza dough, sauteed lotus root and lotus root salad. Participants prepared each meal in groups of two or three and were helped by at least one other Japanese national.

Japanese bikers place toys into the donation box during the 8th annual Toys for Tots Motorcycle Rally outside the Hornet’s Nest here Sunday. The rally was coordinated by the Iwakuni Motorcycle Club and Single Marine Program to kick off the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots campaign. - Japanese bikers place toys into the donation box during the 8th annual Toys for Tots Motorcycle Rally outside the Hornet’s Nest here Sunday. The rally was coordinated by the Iwakuni Motorcycle Club and Single Marine Program to kick off the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots campaign.

Participants take off after the 10-second countdown for the start of the first Heat the Streets duathlon here Sunday. The race was the first run, bike, run duathlon, and service members, civilians and local competitors gathered in numbers twice the amount of last year’s Heat the Streets event. - Participants take off after the 10-second countdown for the start of the first Heat the Streets duathlon here Sunday. The race was the first run, bike, run duathlon, and service members, civilians and local competitors gathered in numbers twice the amount of last year’s Heat the Streets event.

In an attempt to snag one of the six balls Robert Griffin, Munis team member, races to the half court line during the intramural dodgeball tournament at the IronWorks Gym sports court here Saturday. Munis won second place to the Rack Inspectors in the tournament. Jason D. Hulette, Munis team member, brought out his immediate work center because he wanted to help get the Marines in his section to be more active. - In an attempt to snag one of the six balls Robert Griffin, Munis team member, races to the half court line during the intramural dodgeball tournament at the IronWorks Gym sports court here Saturday. Munis won second place to the Rack Inspectors in the tournament. Jason D. Hulette, Munis team member, brought out his immediate work center because he wanted to help get the Marines in his section to be more active.