Longstanding Tradition Celebrates Friendship Between US, Japan

[Navy for Moms Admin]

Release Date: 8/10/2009
By Ben Avey, Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka Public Affairs

090801-N-7478G-131 YOKOSUKA, Japan (Aug. 1, 2009) A child dons a fire helmet aboard the amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) during the Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka 33rd annual Friendship Day. During Friendship Day the base opens its gates to visitors from the local community. Blue Ridge offered tours of the ship throughout the day. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cynthia Griggs/Released)

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) welcomed nearly 62,000 visitors to celebrate the annual Navy Friendship Day Aug. 1.

"Thanks to your presence here today, you have brought great weather and even more fun to a wonderful Friendship Day event," said CFAY Commanding Officer Capt. Daniel Weed in a speech welcoming visitors on base.

Friendship Day, a Yokosuka tradition for 33 years, is held each summer to celebrate the unique and beneficial relationship that has existed between U.S. Navy personnel and the citizens of Yokosuka since 1946.

Yokosuka city Mayor Yuto Yoshida, who spoke at the official event ceremony, shared his vision for the future of the U.S.–Japan alliance in Yokosuka.

"As good neighbors, who live in the same community, let us all respect and understand each other and build a loving hometown," said Yoshida. "We should continue to
interact and understand each other by participating in good, friendly events like today."

Personal interaction and mutual understanding was the overriding theme of the event.

"We want to foster the relationship between the U.S. forces and our Japanese neighbors," said Defense Distribution Depot Yokosuka Japan Commanding Officer Cmdr. Paul Bourgeois, who was selling shaved ice at a command-sponsored booth. "It's a great opportunity [for service members] to get out there and meet the folks who come on the base and show them what life is like on the other side of the fence."

Others view the event as an opportunity for simple fun and great memories.

"I'm out mingling with the Japanese community, having as much fun as they are," said former USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) Sailor and 20-year resident of Japan.

"I hope [Japanese visitors] come down and see we are people just like they are, and we're just as curious about the Japanese culture as they are about ours."

Visitors were treated to American-style food and games, watched or participated in cultural shows and dances and were able to take home a little piece of "Americana"
through the purchase of Navy souvenirs.

Tours of American and Japanese ships were a major highlight of the day as thousands lined the pier waiting to go aboard Blue Ridge (LCC 19), USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship JS Ikazuchi (DD 107).

To close out the event, Yokosuka city sponsored a fireworks display to commemorate "Yokosuka Kaikoku Festival" which is a celebration of Japan's emergence onto the global stage through policies of open trade with other nations and coincides with the Navy Friendship Day.

For more news from Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, visit www.navy.mil/local/cfay/.