Photo By Noriko Kudo | The 765th Transportation (Terminal) Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Marleen J....... read more read more
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CAMP ZAMA, Japan - U.S. Army Garrison Japan and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force co-hosted the 66th Bon Odori Festival held here Aug. 2, welcoming over 16000 visitors.
The festival featured various Bon dances, games, live music entertainment, a variety of cuisine, and fireworks as the finale.
Col. Erik A. Davis, USAG Japan commander, said the festival is a great chance to bring together American military personnel and local Japanese community members in a celebration of cultural exchange.
Davis, who himself had just been stationed at Camp Zama last month, said that this was his first time celebrating Bon Odori and that he had participated in four days of dance practice prior to the event.
“It's amazing to see so many people out there dancing,” Davis said. "I think it's a great exchange."
Last open-post event, Camp Zama celebrated the 4 of July, which is the most American of American holidays and had a great turnout. This time the community has a chance to celebrate the Japanese culture, who are hosts, our allies, and our partners for generations upon generations.
“Throughout the year together. we shouldn't be a foreigner in this country as much as a guest and a partnership in the family,” Davis said. “We're a part of the community here.”
Davis said he hopes that the local participants got a chance to feel welcome on the installation.
The 765th Transportation (Terminal) Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Marleen J. Watson-Rodriguez, who is also new to Japan and participates in the festival for the first time, said despite being an introvert who initially hesitated to participate, described the bon festival as a humbling and transformative experience.
Watson-Rodriguez said she was especially grateful for the Japanese dance instructors, who carefully guided Americans step by step to ensure that their dance preparations were perfect, and danced with them from start to finish on the day of the event.
She developed a special bond with one of the instructors despite the language barrier. The time, passion, energy and friendship that both shared made the cultural experience very special and memorable.
"By far, this has been the most beautiful, eye-opening experience I ever had in my life," Watson-Rodriguez said.
Returning to the festival for the first time in 10 years, Keiko Arai expressed her gratitude to the Camp Zama community for “their unwavering enthusiasm and passion” for learning about traditional culture over the years.
The American participants seem to have practiced all the different bon dances in advance and mastered all the moves perfectly. They showed up wearing yukata even way before the dance music started, Arai continued.
"My friends and I had so much fun dancing with Americans,” Arai said. "I am truly impressed and delighted that the Bon Odori Festival, a traditional event at Camp Zama, has continued unchanged for many years."
| Date Taken: | 08.08.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 08.11.2025 19:00 |
| Story ID: | 545145 |
| Location: | ZAMA, KANAGAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 18 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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