DVIDS – News – USAG Japan ACS holds strolling tour to Zama Shrine for Girls’ Day

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CAMP ZAMA (March 4, 2020) – The U.S. Army Garrison Japan Army Group Services going for walks tour to the Zama Shrine proved astounding cultural experiences really do not always involve considerable vacation.

It took only about 10 minutes for the tour’s masked and socially distanced participants to walk from the Local community Recreation Heart on Camp Zama to the shrine March 3, which marks Girls’ Day in Japan, a time to pray for a daughter’s wellness and joy.

On the street down below the shrine, the dozen individuals seemed up in awe at the hundreds of “Hinamatsuri” dolls on one particular aspect of the lengthy line of steps that direct up to it.

“It’s beautiful. I had no idea [the shrine] was in this article,” claimed Anne Easterbrook, a armed forces spouse who participated. “I’d adore to arrive back again and see what else they have during the 12 months.”

Hinamatsuri shows, placed on pink felt, function dolls putting on the traditional courtroom gown of the Japanese Heian period of time (794 to 1185), and Japanese homes with daughters ordinarily set them up in celebration of Girls’ Day. The practice began during the Edo Interval (1603-1867) as a way to ward off evil spirits.

Sari Sugai, Camp Zama ACS Fantastic Family Member Method and New Father or mother Assist Method coordinator, explained she organized the tour with the intent of elevating morale.

“We would like all the families, the group, to encounter Japanese cultures as a great deal as achievable,” Sugai said. “It’s been a actually complicated year for all of us and I assume this was a good way for every person to arrive out and get to know each and every other and appreciate just about every other’s company.”

Prior to the tour, Sugai supplied participants with an overview of Girls’ Working day, outlining that numerous households screen the dolls commencing Feb. 5, and just take them down March 3.

Sugai also distributed Japanese sweet rice crackers to the tour’s individuals simply because it is a common snack on Girls’ Day.

“Each [type of cracker] has a shade and each and every colour has a this means,” Sugai reported. “White is for snow, inexperienced is for spring leaves, and pink is for peach. So this is the snack for people’s expectation for the spring coming up following the extensive winter.”

Also, Kasumi Yamamoto, spouse of Toshiaki Yamamoto, the shrine’s priest, met the participants there and explained to them about the intensive show, and dispersed fact sheets about Girls’ Working day in Japan.

The shrine has exhibited the dolls on the techniques each year for five years, Yamamoto stated. Organizers of the event acquired the dolls as a result of decades of donations.

Generally the shrine displays the dolls for three times, but exhibited them for 4 times this yr simply because it was the fifth anniversary, Yamamoto stated. The shrine alone dates back again to 539-571.

Marissa Ayag-Garcia, a newcomer to Camp Zama and the ACS Loved ones Advocacy System supervisor, stated she was grateful for the tour.

“I’ve only been in this article for considerably less than six months,” Ayag-Garcia claimed. “This is the 1st time I have been to the shrine. I did not even know that it existed. I didn’t know it was in our neighborhood of Camp Zama. It is a gem. It’s a gorgeous shrine suitable in our neighborhood.”

Amber Herald, a military services partner, reported she and her family have also been in this article for about 6 months, and she desired to consider advantage of the opportunity to understand a lot more about Japan.

In addition, Herald reported her 3-calendar year-outdated daughter required to find out additional about Girls’ Working day.

Girls’ Day shows ordinarily area emperor and empress dolls at the best, with associates of the court docket beneath, and Herald mentioned the working day before she had unintentionally acquired a photograph for her daughter of the emperor and empress and the 3 ladies-in-waiting around straight away down below them.

“I just realized about [Hinamatsuri displays] right now,” Herald said. “I didn’t know [about them] when I bought it.”

Right after looking at Yamamoto’s handout, Herald explained she prepared to integrate some standard Girls’ Day foods at evening meal that evening, which includes “chirashizushi,” or seasoned white rice with fish and greens, and “hinaarare,” puffed rice sweets.

Easterbrook, in the meantime, mentioned she also took element in the tour simply because she required to understand more about Japanese lifestyle even though residing here, and the tour sent.

“I’m genuinely thankful for this prospect to be uncovered to new factors and master far more about the neighborhood we’re in,” Easterbrook stated.