'My Okinawa' photo contest honors Kadena members

  • Published
  • By Ed Gulick
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Three Team Kadena members were honored March 22 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for their photographs depicting life on Okinawa.

Capt. Larry Kitchen, 909th Air Refueling Squadron, and Mrs. Nikki Pedersen each received one of the 10 Kariyushi awards.

Sergeant Walker had never entered a photography contest but entered this one at the urging of his wife and was surprised when his photo won. His photo "The Guardian" depicts a father and son wearing Asian influenced clothing.

"The son is in the foreground while the father stands behind him in the shadows watching over his child," Sergeant Walker said.

Capt. Kitchen, a fledgling photographer whose interest in photography was inspired by Okinawa, was also encouraged by his wife to enter the contest. His photo is of his two daughters and niece mostly in silhouette gazing into a fish tank at Chaurami Aquarium.

"I had been taking numerous photos of the island to remind us of how fortunate we have been to have spent this time here," said Capt. Kitchen.

Mrs. Nikki Pedersen, the wife of Senior Airman Christopher Pedersen, a boom operator with the 909th Aerial Refueling Squadron, offered a similar reason for her participation in the contest.

"I entered the contest because I love photography and I love Okinawa," she said.

Mrs. Pedersen's photo is of her 5-year-old son at the beach being cool with three Japanese teenagers.

"He is very outgoing and hilarious and he just went over to these 3 guys and started talking to them and showing them tricks he could do in the water," said Mrs. Pedersen. "They thought he was hilarious and asked me to take a photo for them with their cameras."

Luckily she took a shot with her camera as well.

At the ceremony, award recipients were individually recognized with a certificate and a gift from MOFA. Friends and family were treated to "Eisa" performances, a traditional Ryukyu dance.

Mr. Arata Mizukami, a MOFA official and the coordinator of the contest, said that he organized the contest to encourage American military members and their families to have contact with the Okinawan people, culture, nature and history.

Overall, the contest received 158 submissions, 21 of which came from military members or dependents. Thirteen photographs were selected for recognition.