Capt. Israel King, 18th Wing judge advocate, practice playing the Okinawan three-string guitar, or Sanshin, with Seiko Taba, a local classical music instructor, during the Kadena Circle Festival Oct. 31. For other Kadena residents, like Cindy Wilsbach (center), wife of 18th Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, the two-day festival offered a chance to experience some of Okinawa’s unique culture. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Lake)

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Nine-year-old Jamellah Haley, daughter of Senior Master Sgt. Ramel Haley, makes tie-dye designs with her mother, Josephine, and Keiko Toma, 18th Wing public affairs specialist, during the Kadena Circle Festival Oct. 31. The two-day festival hosted by Kadena Town brought together hundreds of base and local residents through activities such as tie-dyeing, karate demonstrations, rice pounding, musical performances and a friendly game of children’s dodge ball. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Lake)

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Students from the Uechi Ryu Karatedo Kenyu-kai demonstrate their karate form during the Kadena Circle Festival Oct. 31. The two-day festival hosted by Kadena Town brought together hundreds of base and local residents through activities such as tie-dyeing, karate demonstrations, rice pounding, musical performances and a friendly game of children’s dodge ball. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Lake)

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Cindy Wilsbach, wife of 18th Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, and Sheri Fletcher, wife of 18th Mission Support Group Commander Col. Kelly Fletcher, check their tie dye designs while participating in a workshop at the Kadena Circle Festival Oct. 31. The two-day festival hosted by Kadena Town brought together hundreds of base and local residents through activities such as tie-dyeing, karate demonstrations, rice pounding, musical performances and a friendly game of children’s dodge ball. (U. S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Lake)

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From left to right, Master Sgt. Jon Packard, Staff Sgt. Dan Bragdon and Staff Sgt. Chuck Lawyer from Pacific Air Forces’ “Final Approach” band perform during the first day of the Kadena Circle Festival Oct. 31. The band from Yokota Air Base, Japan, performed a variety of music during the two-day festival near Kadena’s Gate 4. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Lake)

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Kadena circle of friendship

Published Nov. 3, 2009
By 18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- A little bit of bad weather did not spoil the great entertainment, food, and fun for folks that attended the Kadena Circle Festival Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

Brig. Gen. Ken Wilsbach, 18th Wing commander and his wife Cindy, along with Col. Kelly Fletcher, 18th Wing Mission Support Group commander and his wife Sheri, attended the festival with Mayor Tokugitsu Miyagi of Kadena Town and participated in a variety of events.

"Even though it rained, the Okinawans, military members, and their families enjoyed a weekend of live entertainment, cultural classes, sporting events and food," said Akane Kawabata, 18th Wing Public Affairs community relations specialist.

Performances from the PACAF band and local student bands were some of the highlights of the event.

On Saturday, guests could participate in an indigo dyeing class, a Sanshin (Okinawan traditional three-string guitar) class, and dodge ball. The following day's activities included Eisa (Okinawan Traditional Drum Dancing) classes, tug-of-war, and rice pounding.

This was the first Kadena Circle Festival and organizers hope it's not the last.

"The event went really well," said Ms. Kawabata. "People from Kadena Town really appreciated the participation by the military members and families."

The event was created to facilitate a better understand of the U.S. military culture and strengthen ties between Kadena Town and military families.

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Kadena circle of friendship