US, Japanese Children Share Cultural Exchange in Yokohama

By Mass Communication Specialist Brock A. Taylor, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West Det. Japan

June 24, 2010 - YOKOHAMA, Japan (NNS) -- Japanese and American children learned about each other's culture during a special event held at Fleet Activities Yokosuka Negishi housing complex's Richard E. Byrd Elementary School June 23.

Negishi's Child Development Center (CDC), in coordination with Fleet Activities Yokosuka's Yokohama Detachment, hosted 32 Japanese students from Shin Yokohama's Mama Shinohara Preschool. The five and six year-old children spent several hours singing and dancing, playing.

Negishi's CDC Director Sue Proctor said this is the first time the center has reached out to the community in this manner.

"This will teach these kids a lot about diversity," said Proctor. "Children are never too young to learn about other cultures and see how other people live, so that they can learn from an early age how to get along with everyone in the world."

As Japanese students made their way to the school's cafeteria, CDC students welcomed them with open arms. The American children broke the ice quickly with a few popular children's song and dance routines and Japanese children then shared a few songs.

Culinary Specialist 1st Class (AW) Anthony Sykes from Chicago, who volunteers a lot of his time with community outreach projects, said this is one event that truly displays the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance.

"These kids are just having a good time," Sykes said. "They are young and this is the perfect time to show them that times have changed and as they grow up they will see how we have become tighter and stronger," he added, referencing the bond between U.S. and Japan.

Japanese students were also treated to traditional American fare, with a hot dog and hamburger lunch.

"I am grateful that we got a chance to come here today and everyone had a really great time. We hope to do this again soon," Mama Shinohara's Principal Katsuko Niwa said.