Torii U.S. Army Garrison Japan weekly newspaper, May 26, 2011 edition

8/3/2019 Torii U.S. Army Garrison Japan weekly newspaper, May 26, 2011 edition

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Serving the U.S. Army Japan community

www.torii.army.milVOL. 39, NO. 21May 26, 2011

2 News 6 Community 11 Calendar

4 Community 8 Sports 12 Culture

INSIDE the TORII

Photo by Tetsuo Nakahara

Larry Mehaffey, left, assigned to the BG Crawford F. Sams Army Health Clinic, and his son Brannon pet a rabbit during the third annual Cultural Fun Exchange

Day, held Thursday at Dewey Park here. Approximately 250 children, from both on and off the installation, attended. For more on this story, see Pages 6 and 7.

Hello, friend

Okinawa celebrates Asian-Pacific heritageBy Lauren Hall

Torii Station Public Affairs

TORII STATION, Okinawa The men

and women of the 505th Quartermaster Bat-

talion hosted an event May 17 to celebrate

Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month,

during which they recognized the culture,

heritage and contributions of Asian Ameri-cans and Pacific Islanders.

Asian-Pacific American Heritage

Month is one of eight cultural observances

recognized by the Department of Defense in

which we commemorate the cultures who

make up this nation, which truly is a melting

pot, said Lt. Col. Ken Leeds, commander

of the 505th QM Bn.

Soldiers assigned to the 505th spoke of

many influential Asians and Pacific Island-

ers, including Yo-Yo Ma, a world-renowned

Chinese-American cellist who began play-

ing at the age of 4. Duke Kahanamoku, who

was born in 1890 in Honolulu, became the

most famous name in surfing. Dalip Singh

Rana is a professional wrestler and actor

from India who is also known as The Great

Khali. Jerry Yang, originally from Taipei,is the co-founder of Yahoo. Maya Lin, a

Chinese-American, designed the Vietnam

War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

This commemoration is just as much

for everyone here today as it is for the

Asian-Pacific Americans in this audience

because, on the one hand, we are here to

recognize Asian-Pacific American culture

and heritage, but even more importantly,

were here to share that experience with

you, said Marine Col. Leo A. Falcam

Jr., chief of staff of both Camp Butler and

Marine Corps Bases Japan.

Falcam, born in Hawaii to a Microne-

sian father and a Hawaiian mother, moved

with his family to Micronesia when he was

young. He left to attend Parks College of

St. Louis University, where he graduatedwith a bachelors degree in Aviation Science

before joining the Marines in 1981.

It is important to remember the many

contributions of Asians and Pacific Islanders

to the American culture, he said.

More than 300,000 Asians and Pacific

Islander veterans have served our country

with pride and distinction, added Falcam.

Many Asian Americans and Pacific Island-

ers are currently serving, some of whom

have made the ultimate sacrifice in the

cause and pursuit of freedom and this war

against terror.

While many Asians and Pacific Island-

ers have contributed to Americas diverse

culture through military service, others

contribute through entrepreneurship,

education, government and public service,science, entertainment, sports, and the arts,

said Falcam.

Our diversity continues to positively

shape our character as a nation and serves

to unite us, not divide us, he said. I

strongly encourage each and every one of

you to continue your efforts to learn from

our differences and continue to champion

the cause for unity.


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2 May 26, 2011 TORII www.torii.army.mil

NEWS

Zama Briefs

Cooling season to beginThe Directorate of Public Works is

preparing air-conditioning systems for

the upcoming cooling season, which is

estimated to begin sometime this week.

This requires temporarily shutting off both

heating and cooling capabilities in most

buildings in an effort to reduce energy

consumption.

Daytime cooling will begin when the

five-day indoor air heat index reaches 76

degrees or higher and end when it reaches

78 degrees or less between the hours of

5 a.m. and 10 p.m. Nighttime cooling will

begin when the five-day outside air heat

index reaches 74 degrees or higher and

end when it goes below that temperature

between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The cooling-season temperature for

occupied working and living spaces will be

maintained in the range 72 to 76 degrees.

During unoccupied periods, temperatures

will be maintained in the range 80 to 90degrees. Exceptions will be granted if DoD

standards require otherwise. The use of

personal cooling or heating devices requires

a supervisors written approval and can only

be used when the area is occupied.

Due to the electrical energy deficit faced

by Japan and U.S. Forces Japan installations,

additional energy-conservation measures

may be adopted in order to meet peak energy

demand reductions during the summer

months of June through September.

Call 263-4613 or 263-4274 for more

information.

You Made the GradeNow in its 10th consecutive year, the

You Made the Grade program recog-

nizes Camp Zama students who achieve a

B average or better with a benefits-filled

booklet. Exclusive offers include a free

Burger King kids meal or a Subway six-

inch combo, video rental and $2 off any

new release DVD at the Power Zone, to

name a few.

Students who make the grade also can

register for a drawing to win a savings bond

worth up to $5,000.

To receive the You Made the Grade

booklet, students simply present a valid

military ID card and proof of an overall

B or better average to the Camp Zama

Exchange. Students may receive one coupon

package for every qualifying report card,

but may enter the savings bond drawing

only once per calendar year.Camp Zama families can contact the

Exchange at 263-5585 for more information

about You Made the Grade.

Sexual Assault Preventionand Response ProgramThose aware of a sexual assault should report

it immediately. It is punishable under the

Uniform Code of Military Justice and other

federal and local civilian laws. USAG-J

Camp Zama Sexual Assault Hotline:

882# or 090-9395-8909 (24/7 response).

USAG-J Torii Station: 090-6861-8042 (24/7

response). Army Sexual Assault Prevention

and Response Program website: http://www.

sexualassault.army.mil.

Medical workers observe Army combat liesaver courseBy Tetsuo Nakahara

Torii Staff

Photo by Tetsuo Nakahara

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Snell, left, assigned to the BG Sams U.S. Army Health Clinic

here, demonstrates to local medical students how to use a U.S. Army medical kit

during a combat lifesaver course demonstration for Tokyo American Center Thursday

at Dewey Park. About 20 medical students and medical care providers attended.

A group of Japanese medical students

and medical care providers visited Camp

Zama Thursday to interact with their U.S.

Army counterparts and observe the Soldiers

unique medical training.The group consisted of assistant profes-

sors, medical students and firefighters, and

the tour was organized by Tokyo American

Center, a public diplomacy outreach plat-

form of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. The

TAC has been putting on various cross-

cultural programs with the intent of promot-

ing among its countrys medical specialists

a better understanding of American culture

and policies, and has become a big success

over the years.

After the group was welcomed by Col.

Craig Mears, acting commander of the BG

Sams U.S. Army Health Clinic here, they

headed to Dewey Park where Soldiers from

the clinic had set up an area to demonstrate

the militarys combat lifesaver training.In a three-hour span, the Soldiers walked

the group through an abbreviated version

of the CLS course. The course included a

walkthrough of the principles of tactical

combat casualty care such as care under fire,

tactical field care and evacuation care.

We really thought it was a great idea to

introduce [the group] to some of the aspects

of combat medicine because Japanese medi-

cal students go through quite a long period

of their training without ever laying hands

on anybody, said Ann Kambara, director

of the Tokyo American Center. This is a

great opportunity for them because they

really want to touch the equipment that is

used on the battlefield.

This is a very different priority than a ci-

vilian hospital, added Kambara. We thinkthis is a very good chance for them to get to

know us better as people, but also for them

to improve their professional knowledge.

The opportunity also allows U.S. Army

Japan to explain not only combat missions,

but also humanitarian response.

The Soldiers also performed several

hands-on demonstrations in different types

of battlefield scenarios and emergency situ-

ations, including needle decompressions

and applying a tourniquet in a combat

situation.

Its been my experience that there are

quite a few differences between the Japanese

medical community, the Japanese Ground

Self Defense Force community, and the U.S.

Army, said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Snell,

a surgeon liaison officer at BG Sams. Thethings we are teaching everyday Soldiers

Soldiers in basic training [such as] how

to do things like needle decompressions,

is really amazing. So I want [this group] to

gain a greater appreciation of the medical

capabilities of even nonmedical personnel

in the Army. Its been a great opportunity

for Japan and the U.S. to interact.

After the CLS demonstration, the group

had lunch with the Soldiers followed by a

U.S. Army Japan command briefing, during

which they asked questions related to the

medical profession. The visit concluded

with a windshield tour of Camp Zama.

It was a very unique opportunity to

observe the medical training at Camp Zama

today, said Hideki Kusakabe, a firefighter

from the Kawagoe Fire Department. I wasamazed to see that U.S. Soldiers have vari-

ous capabilities to conduct medical care in

emergency situations with limited equip-

ment. They have very special techniques

and gave me good motivation.


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INSIGHTwww.torii.army.mil

This Army-funded newspaper is an authorized publication for the membersof the Army community in Japan in accordance with Army Regulation 360-1.Contents of the TORII are not necessarily the official view of, or endorsement

by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army orthe U.S. Army Garrison Japan command. It is published weekly by the TORIIstaff of the USAG-J HNR/Public Affairs office, APO, AP 96343-0054, phone315-263-5978.

This publication, with a weekly circulation of 2,000, is printed by Pacific Starsand Stripes, Tokyo. All photos are U.S. Army photographs unless otherwiseindicated. The newspaper uses military news services includingAmerican Forces

Press Service andArmy News Service.Story and photo submissions not pertaining to commercial advertising may

be sent to the USAG-J HNR/PAO TORII Office at least two weeks prior to thedesired publication date. The TORII is distributed every Thursday. Submissionsmay be e-mailed to the editor at [email protected]. The editor reservesthe right not to publish submissions not in accordance with Army Public Affairsregulations and standard operating procedures. Editorial offices are located inroom A-208, Bldg. 102, South Camp Zama, Japan.

T RII Newspaper Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Michael T. Harrison Sr.Garrison Commander: Col. Perry HeltonGarrison Public Affairs Officer: Edward H. RoperEditor: Dustin PerryStaff Writer: Tetsuo Nakahara

Okinawa Bureau Chief: Anastasia Moreno

Okinawa Bureau Staff: Lauren Hall

TORII May 26, 2011 3

Sound Off!

Do you have a concern or an issue on your mind? Are you seeking a channel for your voice to be heard? Look no further. The Torii welcomes all letters regarding

issues or concerns involving the Camp Zama community as a whole. Critical letters should offer suggestions for resolutions as applicable. Letters or e-mails must be

signed, but names will be withheld in publication upon request. The Torii will protect the names of its sources if they so desire.

Letters may be edited for content and length according to the Associated Press Stylebook and the Torii Style Guide.

If you would like to have your voice heard in the Torii, e-mail your letters to the editor at [email protected], or send by regular mail to:

HNR / Public Affairs

U.S. Army Garrison Japan

ATTN: TORII EditorUnit 45005, IMPC-JA-HNR/PA

APO AP 96338

IMCOM messageLt. Gen. Rick Lynch

Commander, Installation Management Command

A fundamentally different fiscal real-ity. We will be hearing some variation of

that phrase from Army leaders for a long

time to come. The Armys budget is smaller

than it has been in previous years, and it will

get smaller still. However, a different fiscal

reality does not change the reali ty of what we

owe to Soldiers and families for their service

and sacrifice. The Armys commitment to

them remains as strong as ever.

For the last 18 months, the Installation

Management community has been taking a

hard look at the programs and services we

provide to Soldiers and families, with an

eye not only on costs but also effectiveness.

As the inevitable belt-tightening comes,

we are not trying to do more with less. We

are working to make sure we can do the

important things better.

One of our most important efforts has

been to fully establish Survivor Outreach

Services to provide longer-term, expanded

support and care after casualty assistance

ends. SOS staffers have made tremendousprogress in a short time, receiving more than

24,000 cases from Casualty and Mortuary

Affairs, and they continue to enhance ser-

vices as more survivors provide feedback.

This past year, SOS initiated a survivor

vehicle decal program to ease installation

access, established a Facebook page, and

held an inaugural SOS summit to address

the challenges survivors face.

Other efforts include:

Transforming how Army Community

Service delivers services, by cross-training

more generalists to handle multiple pro-

grams and moving service locations out

into communities.

Adding 44 more systems navigators to

Exceptional Family Member Programs at 26

installations, to assist families with special-

needs members in accessing educational,

medical, housing and personnel services

on and off post.

Hiring more than 240 additional Army

Substance Abuse Program counselors for

installations worldwide.

Launching the Confidential Alcohol

Treatment and Education Pilot, a program

which allows Soldiers to seek help for

addiction without mandatory command

involvement.

Launching a pilot program in which

military student transition consultants

join school liaison officers in workingwith school districts, garrisons and fami-

lies to help students succeed at their new

schools.

Revising the Total Army Sponsor-

ship Program that helps prepare Soldiers,

families and civilians for their new duty

station.

Reinvigorating the Army Family Action

Plan process, with an analysis and review

process that has reduced the backlog of

active AFAP issues from 86 in February

2010 to 51 in February 2011.

This is a snapshot of what we have been

doing to enhance support for Soldiers and

families. It does not begin to convey the full

scope of the programs and services instal-

lation management professionals provide

every day, including housing, public works,

emergency services, environmental pro-

grams, recreation, child care, single Soldier

programs and family programs.

When we look at some big indicators,

we see evidence that the Army is meeting

the needs of Soldiers and families. The

Army is currently exceeding its recruitment

and retention goals, and on the most recent

survey of Army families, the majority of

spouses said they are satisfied with the Army

as a way of life. This is significant after 10

years of ongoing conflict it speaks to the

dedication of Soldiers and their families

and the Armys commitment to providingthem a quality of life commensurate with

their service.

In the new fiscal reality, it will be more of

a challenge for the Installation Management

community to provide the level of support

we want to for our Soldiers and families, but

we will. We are finding better and smarter

ways to provide services and programs by

asking ourselves the same questions families

ask when they look at their own budgets:

Do we really need it? Is it worth the cost?

What are we willing to do without?

To answer these questions, we need

to keep hearing from Soldiers and family

members through ICE comments and

local AFAP summits, for example about

the specifics of what is working, what needs

to be improved, and what is missing. The

commitment to supporting Soldiers and

families remains as strong as ever, but more

than ever, we have to make sure we are on

target in meeting their needs.

Shoplifting incidents at Camp Zama decrease, but cost of items rises

Shoplifting at the Camp Zama Exchange was a good-

news, bad-news story in 2010, as the number of incidents

decreased from the year before but the cost of products

involved in detected cases went up.

Thanks to an abundance of shoplifting prevention mea-

sures such as eagle-eyed closed-circuit TVs with DVR

technology, expanded use of high-tech Electronic ArticleSurveillance and an aggressive youth awareness campaign

theft at the Camp Zama Exchange decreased 17 percent

last year, from 18 incidents in 2009 down to 15. Thieves

were more brazen, however, as the cost of merchandise

involved increased from $674.99 to $1,364.61 in 2010.

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service, which has

By Myra M. Dizon

AAFES Public Affairs

contributed more than $2.4 billion to Air Force services

and Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation

Command programs in the past 10 years, continues to

focus its efforts on reducing theft.

Shoplifting at the Exchange results in a reduced return

on investment to our primary shareholders the military

community, said General Manager Shirley A. Huth. Be-

cause the Exchange is a command with a mission to return

earnings to quality-of-life programs, people who steal from

the Exchange dont only harm themselves but directlyimpact FMWRCs ability to complete its mission.

If shoplifting is suspected, the Camp Zama Exchanges

Loss Prevention office turns the issue over to local law

enforcement. In addition to possible disciplinary action

and criminal prosecution, the Federal Claims Collection

Act allows the Exchange to enact a flat, administrative

cost of $200. There may be further fees, in addition to the

Civil Recovery Program, depending on the condition of the

stolen merchandise. Shoplifters may also face other civil

actions to include a loss of Exchange privileges.

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service is a joint

command and is directed by a board of directors which is

responsible to the secretaries of the Army and Air Force

through the service chiefs of staff. The Exchange has the

dual mission of providing authorized patrons with articlesof merchandise and services and generating non-appro-

priated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding

for military Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation

programs. To find out more about the Exchange history

and mission or to view recent press releases, visithttp://

www.shopmyexchange.com.


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COMMUNITY4 May 26, 2011 TORII www.torii.army.mil

SCHOOL NEWSZama Child Development Center: 263-4992

SHA Child Development Center: 267-6348 SAS Open Recreation Program: Parents: Are you looking for programs that your

school-aged children can participate in? Children: Are you looking for things that willkeep you active and busy outside of the house? If so, then the Open Recreation Program

events are for you. School Age Services is offering open recreation opportunities in the

weekday and Saturday afternoons for youth currently enrolled in grades one to six.

Registration: To register your child or for more information please stop by the CYS

Central Enrollment Registry Office in Bldg. 533 on Camp Zama, or call 263-4125 or

SAS at 267-6013.

John O. Arnn Elementary: 267-6602 GradeSpeed:DoDEA has implemented GradeSpeed in all fourth- through 12th-grade

classrooms worldwide. GradeSpeed is a web-based program that enables parents to log

in and view grade and attendance data for their students. GradeSpeed will be the only

authorized and supported grade book used by DoDEA employees in these grades.

All teachers have secure access to GradeSpeed through the use of an Internet web browser.

Teachers use the grade book portion of GradeSpeed to enter assignments, grades and to

maintain grade calculations. Teachers are also able to e-mail progress reports to parents

through GradeSpeed. For more information, go to http://www.dodea.edu/back_to_school/

gradespeed.cfm or contact Brandy Bell, educational technologist, at brandy.bell@pac.

dodea.edu.

Zama American Middle School: 263-4040Visit the Web at www.zama-ms.pac.dodea.edu/for information pertaining to Zama

American Middle School.

Zama American High School: 263-3181Visit the Web at www.zama-hs.pac.dodea.edu/for information pertaining to Zama

American High School.

Child, Youth and School Services: 263-4500U-Turn Program: This program is designed for youths to turn themselves around and

get the help they need to graduate from high school and move on to higher education.

Its up to U to turn yourself around. The teen center staff is here for U! Join us Tuesdays

and Thursdays nights form study groups; work together with your classmates; get help

from staff and other volunteers; tutor classmates; get S.A.T. tutoring / practice tests; use

this time to work on scholarships and other financial aid applications. There will be a

return bus to SHA for those youth who participate in the U-Turn Program.

Children and parents sit atop flotation devices in the Yano Fitness Center swimming pool during a free Dive-In Movie screening of the animated film How to

Train Your Dragon held there Sunday. The moviegoers were free to wade in the shallow end of the pool as the film played on a large inflatable projection screen.

About 25 people attended the event, which was coordinated by the Directorate of Morale, Welfare and Recreation here.

Dive-In MoviePhoto by Dustin Perry


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COMMUNITYTORII May 26, 2011 5www.torii.army.mil

Arnn students showcase writing, art skillsBy Dustin Perry

Torii Editor

Parents of students at Arnn Elementary

School got a glimpse of the progress their

children made throughout the past ninemonths during an end-of-year showcase

held Thursday at the school.

Projects exhibiting the Sure Start

through sixth-grade students skills in

writing, illustrating, critical thinking and

computer applications were on display in

the schools library, the walls and tables

of which were crowded with the students

creative efforts.

The idea for the showcase came from

Arnn teachers and faculty members who

make up the schools Continuous School

Improvement leadership team wanting to

share with parents how they were working

toward meeting their accreditation goals,

said Heather Stansbury, a kindergarten

teacher there who helped organize theevent.

The various projects displayed during

the showcase support the schools two

primary CSI goals, said Stansbury. The

first is to improve writing skills across

the curriculum using 6+1 Traits, a writing

model that focuses on developing seven

points: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word

Choice, Sentence Fluency, Conventions,

and Presentation. The second goal is to

improve critical thinking using reflective

questions and graphic organizers.

The students have been working on

those two goals, and this showcase is to

bring the parents in so they can be part of

that and see how were doing that to make

our school better, said Stansbury. Our

intent is to teach [the parents] about our twogoals and to get them involved so they

can see what the kids are working on and try

to incorporate those goals at home.

Hand-drawn and computer-generated

illustrations complemented the students

original storybook creations, poetry col-

lections and collages, and interactive

video projects were streamed on computer

monitors for attendees to view. One class

of 4- and 5-year-old Sure Start students

even learned how to use a photo-editing

program called Kids Pic that allowed them

to distort self-portraits to humorous effect,

their teacher said.

They learned how to insert a picture

of themselves and pick backgrounds, said

Linda Reisinger. On this particular projectthey inserted their picture and used a tool in

the program called a blender that blends

the picture. These are called our funny

pictures.

Working on the photo project brought out

her students freedom to express themselves

and also to laugh at themselves, said Reis-

inger, adding that it taught them that who

they are is on the inside, not the outside.

Im very happy because 4- and 5-year-

olds take those risks, said Reisinger. As a

teacher, we are taught to teach the children

to take those risks and not to be afraid to

make a mistake and to have that freedom

to experiment and be creative and have

fun doing it.

Several parents were led throughout

the library by their sons and daughters

who were visibly eager to read to them the

stories and poems they wrote, or present

works of art they had created. Nancy Baer

was there with her 9-year-old daughter

Debbie, a third-grader at Arnn, and said

she could tell a lot of work went into her

various projects.

I remember [Debbie] writing her stories

at home, and Im really pleased with the

results, said Baer.

Robert Posthumus sat in a chair as his

son Daniel, a second-grader, read to him

several poems he wrote, as well as an

autobiographical story aptly titled, All

About Me. Daniel said he utilized many

things he learned throughout the school

year in order to craft his works, including

neatness, onomatopoeia, adjectives, nouns,

punctuation and capitals.

I try to make my stories easy for the

reader to visualize; I also aim for neatness,

said Daniel. It was very fun because I got

to show off how good Ive been doing this

year.

There was a noticeable growth in

Daniels storytelling and language skills

compared to the beginning of the school

year, as evidence by the quality of his sons

projects, said Robert.

I think this showcase is a wonderful

opportunity to look around and see all the

different kinds of projects all the classes

did here, said Robert. Its also a wonder-

ful opportunity for my son to be able to

show off his talents and demonstrate to his

parents, teachers and classmates what his

abilities are.

Photos by Dustin Perry

Robert Posthumus and his son Daniel, a second-grader at Arnn Elementary School, read one of Daniels writing projects that was

on display Thursday during Arnns student showcase, in which parents could view various works done by the students.

Debbie Baer, 9, a second-grade student

at Arnn, reads a story she wrote to hermother Nancy during the schools stu-

dent showcase Thursday at the library.

Examples of distorted funny pictures done by students in Linda Reisingers Sure

Start class using editing software were on display during the student showcase.


6/11

6 May 26, 2011 TORII www.torii.army.mil TORII May 26, 201

COMMUNITY

3rdAnnual Cultural FunExchangeDayat Dewey Park

By Tetsuo Nakahara

Torii Staff

Camp Zamas third annual Cultural Ex-change Fun Day was held Thursday at DeweyPark here, bringing together children fromon and off the installation for an afternoonof games, attractions and other recreational

activities.Cultural Exchange Day was created with

the purpose of building friendships betweenchildren in the Camp Zama community andlocal Japanese youth through a fun event, saidDenise Aguon, director of the Camp ZamaChild Development Center and coordinator

of the event.

This event means a lot to us, said Aguon.It creates a bilateral partnership with our[Japanese] counterparts. For example, wehave a very strong partnership with [nearby]Hosen Kindergarten, and we have manychildren in our community who actually at-

tend the school.It is important to keep that strong relation-

ship and that bond with the local c ommunity,added Aguon. The event is getting biggerand bigger every year.

Children who attended the event camefrom the Camp Zama, Sagamihara FamilyHousing Area and Naval Air Facility Atsugi

CDCs, Hosen Kindergarten, Green BearInternational School and the Seiko GakuenOrphanage. For the event, Dewey Park wastransformed into a large amusement area forthe children, complete with a colorful tent andgame booths, and various attractions such asan inflatable castle, a face-painting booth and

a temporary-tattoo parlor.

A petting zoo supported by Fureai Dobut-sumura was also located in the park in whichthe children were able to touch and interactwith animals including turkeys, rabbits andgoats.

Various community organizations lenttheir supportive efforts to the event. The Camp

Zama Fire Department brought along a firetruck for viewing, as well as their Dalmatianmascot, Sparky. Also involved were the in-stallations Youth Services, the Directorate ofFamily, Morale, Welfare and Recreation, theU.S. Army Garrison Japan Safety Office,teenage members of the Keystone Club, the

Directorate of Public Works, and many other

community volunteers.I want [the children here] to be able to

learn from the children from our host nation by playing together and communicatingwith each other throughout this event. saidAguon.

The children later ate lunch together under

the big tent, many of their faces painted withcolorful designs and their arms emblazonedwith temporary tattoos.

We have been attending this eventevery year, and its been great, said YumiMatsumoto, general manager at Green BearEnglish International School. We are located

in Saitama Prefecture and we dont get manyopportunities to interact with American chil-dren, so our children always look forward tocoming to Camp Zama. This is a good chancefor the children to use the English they learnat our school. We appreciate Camp Zama forinviting us for such a fun day.

Photos by Tets

Children from the Sagamihara Family Housing Area Child Development Center choose toys from a small inflatable pool during the

nual Cultural Fun Exchange Day at held Thursday at Camp Zamas Dewey Park. Approximately 250 children attended the bilate

(From right): Uta Tsuzuki, 4, from Green Bear English International School, and Aaliyah Elliot, 4, from Naval Air Facility Atsugis Child De-

velopment Center, play together on inflatable hopping balls during the Cultural Fun Exchange Day held Thursday at Dewey Park here.


7/11

SPORTS & FITNESS8 May 26, 2011 TORII www.torii.army.mil

Commanders Cup golfA Commanders Cup golf tournament is

scheduled to be held beginning at 7:30 a.m.

on Saturday at the Camp Zama Golf Course.

Participants must register by 5 p.m. on May

20 at the Yano Fitness Center issue counter.Call 263-4664 for more information.

SHA Pool grand openingThe swimming pool at Sagamihara Family

Housing Area is scheduled to open on

Saturday. The pools business hours will

be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through

Sunday.

Summer indoor soccerYouth Sports and Fitness will offer co-ed

indoor soccer, or Futsal, to youth ages 11

through 18. Registration will be held through

June 10, and the season is scheduled to be

held from June 25 through July 30. Call

263-4066 for more information.

Water aerobicsWater Aerobics classes are from 9 to 10

a.m. Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays,

from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and

Thursdays, from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays at

Yano Fitness Center. For more information,

call 263-3348.

Jacuzzi, steam room, saunaOn Wednesday mornings, the jacuzzi, sauna

and steam room are closed for maintenance

from 8 a.m. to noon. for this event. For more

information, call 263-4664 or 263-7980.

Your Weekly Dose

Sports Briefs

Access to care at BG Sams U.S. ArmyHealth Clinic is available 24/7. The clinic is notopen 24/7 but our triage line is available 24/7.When calling the clinic at 263-4127, our staffwill notify a provider who will call you back.The provider will advise you if you can wait untilthe clinic opens, or if you need to seek medicalcare elsewhere.

Host-nation hospitals do not operate in the

same manner as in the U.S. Local hospitals do

not have to see you when you present at their

ER. That is why we want you to call us first. If

our provider thinks this is a medical emergency,that provider will engage our EMS staff including

a translator. Please carry an emergency wallet

card with information on who to call for medi-

cal assistance. These cards are available at the

clinic and at various community events such as

CIE and Medical Morning.

Recently we have noticed an increase ofcalls to the 911 number. This is the emer-gency number which activates the MPs, ourambulance, EMTs and translators. If you have

a life-threatening medical emergency, call 911on post or 119 off post. If you are feeling sickor have an injury that does not meet the criteriafor life, limb or eyesight, call the clinic at 263-4127 and push option 1 for triage nurse or 24/7medical advice. Our provider on call will adviseyou on what options are available.

Using video games to get fit?Studies show some games promote ftness, physical activity in childrenBy Heather Waldron

American Academy of Pediatrics

Nintendo Wii. Dance Dance Revolution .

The EyeToy. These interactive video games,

which are designed to promote fitness, have

taken the gaming world by storm.

Nintendos Wii Sports and Konamis

DDR are among the new exergames

that require users to stand up and move to

participate.

Exergaming is beneficial because it

keeps children in a culture of movement

as opposed to a culture of inactivity, said

Dr. Michael Rich, director of the Center for

Media and Childrens Health at Childrens

Hospital Boston.

But just how effective are these games as

exercise tools? A published study showed

that participation in more intense gameslike Wii Boxing andDDR was comparable

to moderate-intensity walking. However,

another article notes that while exergaming

uses significantly more energy than activi-

ties in which a player remains sedentary,

it does not provide as much benefit as

participating in actual sports.

Experts offer the following advice on

the use of these games:

Exergaming is not a replacement for

traditional exercise. Instead, it should be

the gateway to other physical activity or a

supplement to a bigger exercise plan.

Use the games as a rainy-day or winter

activity. When possible, though, encourage

children to get outside and play.

Beware of Wii-itis or overuse injuries.

Stretch appropriately and pay attentionto your body. If something starts to hurt,

stop, advises Dr. Gwenn OKeeffe of the

American Academy of Pediatrics Council

on Communications and Media.

Choose games carefully. Some, like

DDR, have proven benefits. But others can

be ineffective. You can cheat; you dont

really have to move your body a lot, said

Dr. Lisa Hansen, who heads the exergam-

ing research lab at the University of South

Florida. The benefits derived from playing

Nintendo Wii are dependent on the energy

level of whats expended by the child.

Pick a system that has multiple games,

so your child has variety and wants to con-

tinue exergaming.

Photo by Dustin Perry

Ernest Johnson prepares to deadlift 315 pounds in the mens middleweight division of the Big Kahuna weightlifting competi-

tion held Thursday at Yano Fitness Center here. Also incorporated into the co-ed competition was a bench press event.

Big Kahuna Weightlifting Competition Winners

Mens Lightweight

1st: Takahashi Komiyama

(3.62 combined lift ratio)

2nd: Masashi Watanabe


3rd: Robert Deverick


Mens Middleweight

1st: Everett Estrada


2nd: Mike Grogan


3rd: Ernest Johnson


Mens Heavyweight

1st: Kenneth Royal


2nd: Derek Chandler


3rd: Jacob Seibold


Womens Division

1st: Marilyn Vilaythong


2nd: Georgia Blake


3rd: Amy Brinson



8/11

SPORTS & FITNESSTORII May 26, 2011 9www.torii.army.mil

Children love cooling off in the waterduring the hot summer months. Be sure

to keep them safe by following precau-

tions from the American Academy of

Pediatrics.

Drowning is the second leading cause

of unintentional death among U.S. children

ages 1 to 9. The highest rate of drowning

is in the zero-to-4-year-old age group, and

adolescent boys are the second largest group

of drowning victims.

The AAP urges parents to never let their

guard down and to take protective measures

whenever children are swimming or play-

ing near water.

While new research has found that

swimming lessons may reduce the risk of

drowning in children, they are no substitute

for supervision while children are in or nearthe water, according to the AAP.

The following are swimming safety tips

from the AAP:

Supervision is essential for all children,

regardless of whether they have had formal

swimming lessons. Many children who have

drowned were being supervised by adults

who turned their backs for just a moment.

Families with pools or spas should put

up four-sided barrier fences that cannot be

climbed and include a self-latching gate to

separate the pool or spa from the house and

the rest of the yard.

Portable and inflatable pools also pose

drowning risks, and these pools also should

be fenced in. Children can easily climb over

or fall into the pools, even when laddersare removed.

Pool and spa drains should have special

covers and vacuum systems that prevent

body entrapment and hair entanglement.

While public pools are required by law to

install drain covers and safety systems, many

home pool and spa owners are unaware of

these risks and have not taken precautions

to prevent injuries.

Finally, parents should use multiple

layers of protection such as supervis-

ing children, learning CPR, and installing

fences, an alarm and cover to ensure a

fun yet safe time for everyone.

Make a splash withsafe, fun swimming

this summerBy Trisha Korioth

American Academy of Pediatrics

Army archers takesilver in two events

Photo by Jacqueline M. Hames

Kenneth Harker, compound bow silver medalist, draws his arrow during the Archery Finals of the 2011 Warrior Games held

Thursday at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Harker vowed to compete again next year for the gold.

By Jacqueline M. Hames

Army News Service

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. Two

Army athletes took home silver medals

Thursday in the 2011 Warrior Games

Archery Finals at the Olympic Training

Center here.

Travis Akin finished second in the

recurve-bow shooting and Kenneth Harker

took second place in the compound-bow

competition, after equally intense rounds

of shooting.

The medal round in archery consisted of

the top eight shooters from the preliminaries.

The archers were paired in bracket format,

the top two athletes competing for the gold

in both the recurve and compound events.

Each archer was allowed 30 seconds to

make a shot, shooting alternately.

Harker faced off against Jedidiah Vermil-

lion, a Marine, in a side-by-side shootout

punctuated by cheers from supporters.

I did all right; I got to the gold-medal

round, and I think my second [arrow] in,

my nerves were getting the better of me,

Harker said. Toward the last in the fourth

in I brought it back in, but I lost by two

points.

Harker is a double-leg amputee. He

was injured by an explosive-form penetra-

tor in Baghdad, but believes the Warrior

Games has helped him immensely with

his recovery.

Its been an amazing experience, he

said.

Though Harker is happy to have won the

silver medal, he is not satisfied and intends

to come back next year to win the gold.

Akin, the recurve silver medalist, went

head-to-head with another Marine, Steven

Lunt. Andre Shelby, a Sailor, took the gold

in the compound bow, while Dan Govier of

the Marines took the gold in recurve. Lunt

and Vermillion went home with the bronze

in their respective events.

Give it a try, Harker advised other

wounded Soldier about the Games. A lot

of guys probably havent even thought about

trying, so you have to give it a try.

The Warrior Games, a joint effort be-

tween the U.S. Olympic Committee and the

U.S. Department of Defense, is sponsored

by Deloitte. For a complete competition

schedule or list of event results, visit www.

usparalympics.org/warriorgames.

Give [the Warrior

Games] a try. A lot of guys

probably havent even

thought about trying, so

you have to give it a try. Kenneth Harker

Silver medalist in 2011 Warrior Games compound-bow competition


9/11

CLASSIFIEDS & MOVIES10 May 26, 2011 TORII www.torii.army.mil

MOVIE SCHEDULE

ATSUGI Cinema 77

https://www.atsugi.navy.mil/ATSUGI/Mwr/index.html

264-3789

SAGAMIHARA

For your TV schedule, visit www.myafn.net

Classified ads not pertaining to commercial profit

are free to military personnel, DA Civilians,

Family members and MLC/IHA employees.

Ads should be 20 words or less with non-

workplace E-mail or phone numbers listed.

To submit a classified ad, E-mail [email protected], the Torii

Newspaperreserves the right not to publish

inappropriate advertisements. Deadline

is no later than noon Mondays. Militarycommunity classified ads can also be placed

for free on a commercial Web site at www.

mymilitaryclassifieds.com/xzclf/162_Camp_

Zama_ARMY_/.

Appropriated Fund (APF) and NonappropriatedFund (NAF) job announcements and applicationinstructions are available athttp://cpol.army.mil.For questions regarding APF vacancies, pleasecall 263-3608. NAF MWR job announcementsand required forms are also available at http://www.usarj.army.mil/information/zama/employ.htm. For questions regarding NAF vacancies,please call 263-5800.

Non-appropriated fundPacific Stars & Stripes

job announcements are available online athttp://cpol.army.mil. For more information, callthe Job Information Center at 229-3163.

Japanese national position vacancies are postedon the Internet at http://www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil/ima/sites/jeso/rp_jjobs_list_j.asp.Application forms are available on the samesite. Selection status can also be checked. Formore information, call 263-3325.

Jobs

Others

Wanted

Other local positions

Pets

http://www.aafes.com/ems/pac/zama.htm267-6111

Friday

6 p.m...................................Priest (PG-13) 87 minutes

9 p.m...................The Lincoln Lawyer (R) 119 minutes

Saturday

6 p.m...................................Priest (PG-13) 87 minutes

9 p.m...........................................Paul (R) 104 minutes

Sunday

3:30 p.m................Mars Needs Moms (PG) 88 minutes

6:30 p.m...............................Priest (PG-13) 87 minutes

Friday

6 p.m...Pirates of the Caribbean 4 (PG-13) 137 minutes

9:30 p.m...Pirates of the Caribbean 4 (PG-13) 137 minutes

Saturday

3:30 p.m............................Hanna (PG-13) 111 minutes


9:30 p.m....................Source Code (PG-13) 93 minutes

Sunday

3 p.m........................Source Code (PG-13) 93 minutes

5:30 p.m............................Hanna (PG-13) 111 minutes


ATTENTION

Animal adoption: Dogs and cats are availablefor adoption at the Camp Zama Veterinary Clinic.For more information, call 263-3875.

2 German Sheppard Dogs: FREE to good homeor homes. 1 solid white male 5years old fixedand has papers. He is skittish around strangersbut warms up to you. Black and Tan female 3years old not fixed. She is very good with childrenand loves anyone who will pet her. Both are upto date with shots. Have kennels for both . Call901-405-7646 cell08059732022

Cub Scout Pack 34: Cub Scouts Pack 34 meetsevery 2nd Thurs 18:30 Zama Scout Hut Bldg533. Parents & Single-Soldier Volunteers arewelcome. All boys grades 1 - 5 are encouraged tojoin us for great learning experiences, characterbuilding and fun! Contact Cubmaster [email protected] 090-6042-0797.

ZaCSAs East Meets West Shop: located behindthe dry cleaners on Camp Zama, carries vintageJapanese items and collectibles. Store hours areevery Tuesday and the 2nd and 4th Saturdaysof the month from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Profitsfrom the shop go back to the community inscholarships and welfare grants. For additionalinformation please call 263-5533. Stop on byand check it out.

JAPANESE SPOUSE CLUB:Would you liketo socialize with other Japanese spouses, learnmore about being a military spouse, share your

Football Coaching: Volunteer AssistantFootball Coaches are being sought for Zama HighSchool. Interested individuals should considertheir availability for daily after-school practices(1500-1730) as well as spring and preseasonpractices and games. Coaches meetings beginsoon. For more information please contactCoach Merrell at 263-3181 [email protected].

Taekwondo instructor: Child Youth & SchoolServices SkiesUnlimited program is lookingfor a certified ATA Taekwondo instructor. If

Interested please Contacted Nicholas Andrews,instructional program specialist, at 263-4125

Volunteer at U.S. Army Garrison Japan Postal

Service Center : Volunteer opportunities areavailable in the USAGJ Postal Service Center,we will provide you with valuable training in PostOffice and Unit Mailroom operations. Pleasecontact Army Community Services at 263-8087for details and assistance on volunteering yourservices.

English teachers: A small off-post home

Child and Youth Program Assistant (Level

2-4), (CYS, Zama & SHA), CY-1/2, RFT/RPT,$9.59 - $17.09, Open Continuous

Child and Youth Program Assistant (Level

2-4), (CYS, Zama & SHA), CY-1/2, Flex,$9.59 - $17.09, NTE: 9/30/2011, Closes: July27, 2011

Business Manager (Food Service), BD, NF-03,RFT, $29,000 - $40,000, Close: June 15, 2011

Recreation Assistant (Lifeguard),RD, NF-02,Flex, $9.29, Closes: November 30, 2011

Administrative Assistant (CYS),CYS, NF-03,RFT, $23,300 - $23,500, Closes: June 6, 2011

Recreation Assistant (Lifeguard/Pool

Operator), RD, NF-02, RFT, $9.29, Closes:November 30, 2011

Supervisory Accountant, Central Accounting

Office,NF-04, RFT, $40,000 - $50,000, Closes:May 31, 2011

Administrative Assistant: Girl Scouts isseeking a skilled office professional to supportGirl Scout Overseas West-Pacific at Camp Zama.Excellent computer and communication skillsa must. This regular part-time position (25-30)hours per week is available June 15. Send coverletter and resume to [email protected]

Anti-Terrorism/Force Protectioninstructorswanted. Positions are available with FirearmsAcademy of Hawaii, Inc. Duties includeinstruction of marksmanship, watch standingand tactical team movements. Position locationis Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. Marksmanshipinstructor experience is a must. Tactical teammovement experience is desired. Qualifiedcandidates may call Christopher at 243-6171 or

send resume [email protected].

Substitute teachers: Zama American High/Middle School are currently acceptingapplications for substitute teachers. U.S.citizenship and a high school diploma or GEDare required. For more information or anyquestions, please call 263-4005.

Physical Therapist, Intermittent (240 hours):

Provides physical therapy service in the areasof physical disabilities, neuromuscular andpsychosocial dysfunctions in patients rangingfrom adolescence to the very elderly. Must havelicense to practice physical therapy in the U.S.This is a contract positions open to SOFA statusapplicants. Resumes may be sent to [email protected]. ALL applicants shallregister in the Central Contractor Registration(CCR) at www.ccr.gov.

Physical Therapist, Intermittent (240 hours):

Provides physical therapy service in the areasof physical disabilities, neuromuscular andpsychosocial dysfunctions in patients rangingfrom adolescence to the very elderly. Must havelicense to practice physical therapy in the U.S.This is a contract positions open to SOFA statusapplicants. Resumes may be sent to [email protected]. ALL applicants shall

register in the Central Contractor Registration(CCR) at www.ccr.gov.

school(about 200 students) near Sagami Depot.First time teachers welcome! Classes availableMon. Thu. 1pm to 9pm ( No weekends orFridays!) Call for details. Derek PartingtonEnglish School, home 042-756-4483; cell090-3082-4439 or E-mail: [email protected]

Part-time English teacher: Pay is16,000 towork four times per month. Two Mondays from

4 6:10 p.m., one Tuesday from 9 10 p.m. andone Friday from 7 8 p.m. Located 15 minutesdriving distance from SHA in Minami-Rinkanarea. For more information, E-mail Kaz [email protected] .

ESL teacher: Seeking ESL teachers for two

conversational group classes. One requires travel

to Tama and is very accessible by car. Meeting

times are the 1st and 3rd Sat. from 10:30 a.m.

noon for one class and Sat. from 3 to 4 p.m.

for the second. Pay is 7,500 and 3,000 perhour respectively. Call 090-549-6725 or e-mail

[email protected].

Instructor: Arts and Crafts Center seeks

instructors to teach sewing, water color painting,washi paper craft and/or acrylic paint arts. Also

looking for contracted framer who has at least

three years experience in framing production.

For more information, call Nodera-san at 263-

4412.

Help needed: yard cleaning, house cleaning,and other chores. Compensations are uponagreements. Please contact [email protected], or call 080-5879-8318.

Due to the recent contract with Allied Telesis,residential phone numbers with 263- and 267- prefixes have changed. If you are currentlyrunning a classified ad in the Torii that lists anout-of-date residential number as a point ofcontact and would like to change it to your newextension, send an e-mail to [email protected] the updated phone number. TheTorii staff will work to ensure these changes arereflected in future issues of the publication.

experiences and support with others? If so, pleasecall Meg at 263-8327 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

Rising Sun Lodge 151, F&AM. Stated Meeting1st Thursday of every month at the Masonic Bldg,Sagami Depot. For more information contact:[email protected]; website: risingsunlodge151.com; or call Dave 080-3467-7881.

FUREAI, Japanese Personnel Newsletteris issued and distributed electronically. Thisnewsletter is for MLC/MC/IHA personnel andUS personnel who have Japanese subordinateemployees. It is available at https://intranet.zama.army.mil/?linkid=fureai.

Table Top Miniatures:Do you play Warhammer40K or Fantasy? Other miniature games? Wellcontact me and lets roll some dice! Please emailJames @ [email protected]

Sports Photos Wanted: The Torii Newspaperwants to publish your action sports photos forsports of all ages, all seasons. To showcase yourteam or your childs team, e-mail your digitalaction sports photos less than two weeks old(with captions) in .jpg format of 3mb or moreto [email protected].


10/11

COMMUNITY CALENDARwww.torii.army.mil TORII May 26, 2011 11

UpcomingOngoing Events

Energy-saving noticeDue to the current state of emergency and the limited

electrical power generation capability across Japan, the

following measures will be implemented immediately:

1. Turn off all unnecessary lights, especially in unused

office spaces, classrooms and conference rooms, and turn

down all remaining individual lighting levels where pos-sible.

2. Turn off Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning

(HVAC) Systems. If shutdown is not possible during this

heating season, turn thermostats down to 68 degrees or be-

low. Reduce settings to 55 degrees at the end of the day.

3. Turn off all office/home appliances when not in

use.

4. Maximize use of natural ventilation where feasible

and dress appropriately to maximize individual comfort.

5. Clean or replace your air-conditioner filters.

6. Maximize use of day-lighting in work areas an class-

rooms (use of sunlight in lieu of conventional power).

7. Set computers, monitors, printers, copiers, and other

business equipment to their energy-saving modes, and

turn them off if not in use and at the end of the day or as

instructed by the 78th Signal Battalion.

8. Minimize energy usage during peak demand hours

from 5 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. The major peaks occur

from noon to 6 p.m. during normal work and school hours.

The energy use during this period can be reduced by load

shedding, thereby reducing the demand at the time the

Garrison needs it the most.

9. Use laptop computers (preferably on battery power

when possible). They consume 90 percent less energy than

standard computers.

10. If possible, do not make photocopies or print docu-

ments, and conduct all business electronically. Use e-mail

instead of sending memorandums and faxing documents.

11. Limit the use of your vehicle. If vehicles will be used,

implement carpooling and plan your trips accordingly. Use

the public mass transportation system when available.

Foreign Born Spouse Support GroupWhether your question concerns immigration and natural-

ization, learning the English language, or how to take local

transportation, the Army Community Service Relocation

Program provides assistance, weekly classes and referrals.

The support group is held on the third Wednesday of every

month from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the ACS Outreach Room.

Call 263-HELP (4357) for pre-registration.

Training DVDs availableShoulder to Shoulder: I Will Never Quit on Life is a 16-

minute documentary video that features Soldiers who

received help for personal distress or who assisted a fellow

Soldier. These stories help reduce the stigma associated

with personal distress, and inspire individuals to get the

help they need.

For Department of the Army civilians, the video is followed

by a five-minute video module designed specifically for

them. It features individuals who are committed to the well-

being of the entire Army family or who found assistance

and support within the Army.

The Home Front is a unique tool for education in the areas

of suicide-risk awareness, suicide prevention and the

promotion of a positive behavioral health lifestyle. Also

available are suicide awareness pamphlet guides.

For copies of these materials, visit the Training Support

Center located at Bldg. 102, Room 207.

Post-Combat Stress SupportA support group to assist those experiencing symptomsof post-combat stress is offered from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30

p.m. Tuesdays at Army Community Service.

CLEP and DANTES TestingCollege-Level Examination Program and Defense Activity

for Non-traditional Education Support testing sessions

are held at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesdays. To schedule

an appointment, call 263-5379 or e-mail dspivey@

asia.umuc.edu. To study for the CLEP tests, visit www.

petersons.com. To study for the DANTES exams, visit

www.getcollegecredit.com.

Hisano [email protected]

Whats HappeningOutside the Gate?

Eagle 810, AFN Tokyo

Sharaku, one of the greatest mastersof traditional Japanese woodblock print-ing @ Tokyo National Museum, throughJune 12

Jazz Performance Festival Jazz in Fu-chu @ Keio Train Line Fuchu Stationarea, Tokyo (No charge), May 28

Onsen Water Splashing Festival, or Yu-kake Matsuri, @ Yugawara Town, May28

Azalea Bonsai Exhibits @ YokohamaSankeien Garden, through June 5

One of the Japans Greatest Festivals

Sanno Matsuri @ Hie Jinja Shrine, To-kyo, June 7-17Featuring traditional ceremonies, rituals, a parade of

children in traditional costumes, Shinto music and dancing,

and an open-air tea ceremony. Everyone is welcome to join

a local folk-music and dance performance.

Thai Culture Festival 2011 @ Ueno Park,Tokyo, June 11-12

*Some events may be cancelled or postponed at the

last moment.


11/11

www.torii.army.mil

TRAVEL & CULTURE

Lazy summer days in Izu

Wh i t e s and beaches , c r y s t a l c l e a r wa t e r and un t ouched na t u r e i s

what youll find on this side of Japan. Its the Shimoda

region of the Izu Peninsula, located approximately three

and a half hours by car from Camp Zama.

Shimoda is known as the city of the Black Ship, which was

the U.S. Naval fleet led by Commodore Perry, who arrived in the

Shimoda port in 1854. It was here that Japan finally opened up

her gates to trade from the outside world as she emerged from

the secluded Edo Period. For the first time in history, it was here

that the U.S. began its diplomatic relations with Japan.

A trip to Izu is also accessible by train, but in a car, you can

easily enjoy the beautiful coastline while driving. Youll see

striking rock formations amidst a deep ocean blue. On a clear,

sunny day, the drive will almost have you feeling as if youre

on an exotic island far, far away from civilization.

Shirahama Beach is the most popular in Shimoda because

its closest to Tokyo. It has the longest stretch of white sand inthe area. This beach gets most crowded during the summer with

younger crowds, especially since the summer services draws

them in. They like the convenience of the concession stands,

beach parasol and cold drinks available right on the beach.

Therefore, if youre looking for a more quiet, relaxing time,

the best months to visit Shirahama are May, June and September,

when you can go surfing, body boarding and swimming without having

to fend off the crowds.

The coastline becomes rocky and steep around Tsumekizaki Beach.

This is the one of the least crowded areas in Shimoda. There is a 2.8-

kilometer oceanfront sidewalk with plenty of stairs and dramatic views.

A recommended starting point is from Suzaki Kaigan, where you can catch

a bus. However, plan on taking an hour to reach the lighthouse, where youll

find a secret beach called Kujyuppama, which is very small but has super crystal

emerald green water. The parking lot here is five-minute hike from the beach.

About two kilometers south of Shimoda Station, the next two beaches also good

for swimming and surfing are Tatadohama and Iritahama. However, the sand and surf

are the only draws here, since they are void of the many shops and hustle characteristicof Shirahama Beach.

As you drive further south, Ohama and Toji are foreign tourist favorites for their quiet

atmosphere and pristine white sands. Ohama is ideal for a family barbecues because the

parking lots and beach are very close.

Toji beach offers visitors the thrill of sand skiing, where you can slide down a 45-meter long

natural slope of sand, made by strong seasonal winds blowing inland. If you are hungry, there are

some laid-back beach cafs nearby, such as the small, but very tasty South Caf and the Spice Dog,

which has tasty Indian curries and pasta, frequented by the local surf crowd and musicians.

You can also enjoy some onsen (hot spring in Japanese) around the Shimoda area. After a long day of sun

bathing and soaking in the salty ocean, a dip in fresh water springs is quite refreshing.Getting there:Shimoda is located approximately 175 kilometers from Tokyo. The drive is about three hours

along the Tomei Expressway, Odawara-Atsugi Highway and the Manazuru Highway, depending on traffic. For

more information on the Izu Peninsula, visit www.japan-guide.com/e/e6305.html.

Torii Staff Report

12 May 26, 2011 TORII

Documents

Torii U.S. Army Garrison Japan weekly newspaper, May 26, 2011 edition