Tohoku Children Visit Yokosuka Naval Base for Holiday Homestay Program

January 2, 2013 — On December 26-28, 2012, the Yokosuka Holiday Homestay Program provided children from disaster-affected cities in the Tohoku region the opportunity to visit the Yokosuka Naval Base for homestays with the families of U.S. Navy personnel who are stationed in Japan. The program was a follow up to one held in March 2012, and was coordinated by the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, the TOMODACHI Initiative, and local officials in Tohoku, with the cooperation of officials and families of the Yokosuka Naval Base.

The program provided a very rare opportunity for children from the city of Rikuzentakata in Iwate Prefecture to get to know families of U.S. Navy service members, many of whom participated in “Operation Tomodachi” which provided humanitarian aid to Rikuzentakata and Tohoku in the aftermath of the March 11, 2011 earthquake. The program was designed to help lift the spirits of the young children during a difficult time in their lives, and provide a unique way for them to interact with Americans and experience American culture without having to venture too far from Japan.

Participating children, aged 12-13, were hosted by about 11 families living on the base. The children and their host families participated in sports activities such as bowling and dodge ball, and toured the aircraft carrier the USS George Washington.

Masashi Terui of Takata Junior High School remarked, “This home stay program was very fun and it was a very unique experience. I don’t think I ever could have experienced something like this back home in Iwate. I am very grateful”.