Negishi shares Easter tradition with orphans

Photo By Paul Long | The Easter Bunny greets children from Seibo Aijien Orphanage at Negishi Housing Area, April 13. The children's visit to Negishi was part of Fleet Activities, Yokosuka's overall community relations program. (U.S. Navy photo by Paul Long/ Cleared for release by CFAY PAO)  

YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JAPAN

04.13.2013

Story by Paul Long 

Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka

YOKOSUKA, Japan - The Easter Bunny made a cameo appearance at Fleet Activities, Yokosuka’s Yokohama Detachment, locally known as Negishi Housing Area, during an Easter egg hunt and picnic for children from Seibo Aijien Orphanage.

The children’s visit to Negishi was part of FLEACT, Yokosuka’s overall community relations program.

“What we’re doing is showing the children the different things we do in America for Easter,” said Chief Master-at-Arms Errol Cummings, officer in charge for Negishi. “We set things up so that the kids can play, enjoy each other and feel comfortable with their American hosts.”

The children were shown how to hunt for Easter eggs, competed in bunny races and egg runs, and took turns taking swings at a Thomas the Tank Engine piñata.

Volunteers sat down with the children and showed them how to decorate their eggs.

Isis Rodriguez, a Negishi resident, volunteered her time for this community relations project.

“I have a really soft spot in my heart for children in general, especially for children who’ve been left without parents,” Rodriquez said. “I knew that it would be great to see the smiles on their faces. I knew that they would have a wonderful time. I knew that we could provide them with an experience that they may not have had otherwise.”

Rodriguez’s husband, Jay, who is a lieutenant assigned to the USS George Washington (CVN 73), also volunteered.

“I’m out here for the kids,” he said. “I thought it would be a great opportunity to share with those less fortunate. Anything that we can do for them to give them a sense of normalcy in their lives, it’s definitely a blessing.”

The children were also treated to an American-style barbecue menu consisting of hot dogs, hamburgers, potato chips, fruit cocktail, fruit punch and water.

At the end of the barbeque, the children and their hosts were bused a short distance to Equine Museum of Japan, a museum dedicated to the history and folklore of the human interaction with the horse.

“I believe that it’s good for children to interact with horses,” said Mitsunobu Hatayama, the museum’s president. “Children can learn compassion, kindness and love by touching horses. It’s good for the children to come here.”

According to Tsutomu Nishino, chief of staff for Seibo Aijien Orphanage, the children had a great time and enjoyed playing with the volunteers.

“I believe that children that participate in these such event learn how to interact with others [foreigners] and such experience and seeing your kindness helps these children grow into compassionate, kind, caring, and giving people,” Nishino said. “We would like to reciprocate to your hospitality. Our children are learning how to play Japanese Taiko drums play, and they would like to show you their performance one day.”

• Date Taken: 04.13.2013
• Date Posted: 05.07.2013 01:41
• Story ID: 106462
• Location: YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP