Photos

of Local Iwakuni Festivals and Events

Iwakuni White Snake Parade Photos 11/20/98

KINTAI BRIDGE FESTIVAL/DAIMYO AND YOUNG WARRIORS PROCESSION:

• A costume
  The costumes were laid out on mats on the gymnasium floor; there were numbered bags for the clothes you changed out of. (Apr. 29, 1997)
  
• Col. Melton, CO, MCAS Iwakuni
  The CO at the time, Col. Melton participated in the parade, too, alongside the Mayor of Iwakuni. There were helpers there, to assist people in getting into the unfamiliar costumes! (Apr. 29, 1997)
  
• John and Ashley
  John was dressed as a samurai, I believe; Ashley was one of the Young Warriors (complete with make-up!!!) (Apr. 29, 1997)
  
• An American Marine in costume
  This guy was lucky enough to get a really cool costume! The Japanese invited the base to send 10 children, 8 adult males and 2 adult females to participate in this event, along with the Japanese. (Apr. 29, 1997)
  
• The Ladies
  I think the young lady in the center was dressed as a princess, and the others as her attendants. The two women on the ends are Americans! (Apr. 29, 1997)
  
• Americans and Japanese
  Two American Marines (the one on the right is Dean Reik, an EOD MSgt) with a group of Japanese Young Warriors, and a Japanese elder. (Apr. 29, 1997)
  
• Crossing the Bridge
  This very small, and not too clear, image is the best I can do for now. In the future we hope to get some video capture equipment, and I may be able to show better pictures. But this is all I have now, showing some of the parade, crossing the Kintai Bridge. (Apr. 29, 1997)
  
  FRIENDSHIP DAY '97:
  
• John with an A-10 Warthog
  Above the crowd, you can see the aircraft, which John says is an A-10! I'll take his word for it. This is a small sample of how crowded this place was on this day. The official word was that there were more than 183,000 visitors to the base for this year's Friendship Day, the second largest crowd since 1960! (May '97)
  
  NISHIKI RIVER FESTIVAL:
  
• View of vendors stands from the Kintai Bridge
  Our family rode our bikes to the Festival, parked them, and enjoyed the sights on foot. The stands below the bridge were selling everything from food to souvenirs. And it was very crowded!!! (Aug. 2, 1997)
  
• Some of the Festival-goers on the Kintai Bridge
  There was no charge to cross the bridge on this evening, so it was also crowded with people, like us! (Aug. 2, 1997)
  
• Nishiki River Festival Fireworks
  We were making our way through the crowd during the fireworks, so we probably weren't in the best spot for picture-taking, but this shot shows the fireworks over the bridge, as well as the colorful lanterns that line the riverside. (Aug. 2, 1997)
  
  CORMORANT FISHING:
  
• Cormorants
  We made it down to see the cormorant fishing under the Kintai Bridge this summer, but our cameras couldn't capture the scene in the dark :-( I did manage to get this picture of the birds on the shore, after they finished fishing. This year we watched from the shore, which is free; next year we'd like to get on the observation boats to enjoy the full experience!
  
  JAPANESE AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL EXTRAVAGANZA 1998:
  
  
• Traditional Japanese Musical Performance
  Sponsored by MWR and the OWC, this was a fun day lasting from 1:30-4:30, and including everything from American country line-dancing and gospel choir, to Japanese traditional music, such as this. There are four different intruments being played here; the Koto (a 13 stringed instrument), the Shakuhachi (a bamboo flute), the Taiko (japanese drums), and the banjo-type instrument, which I don't know the name of.
  
  

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