CFAY members, Citizens of Zushi Join In Historical Celebration
By Mark Elrod, CFAY Public Affairs

(Left) Dressed as a samurai court guard for the Shogun, MA1 Adladdin Slate from CFAY Security Department, participates in the 19th annual Yabusame and Period Costume Parade hosted by the Zushi City Society of Commerce and Industry in Zushi City Nov. 21. Photo by Yutaka Matsumori

Members of the Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) community joined citizens of Zushi City to participate in the 19th annual Yabusame and Period Costume Parade hosted by the Zushi City Society of Commerce and Industry in Zushi City Nov. 21.

The celebration began with a parade featuring CFAY volunteers and local residents dressed as 12th century samurai warriors.

“I played one of the samurai court guards for the Shogun,” said Master-At-Arms 1st Class Adladdin Slate, who is attached to CFAY Security Department. “It is a glimpse into the past when samurai clans prepared to go into battle, and very elaborate. I really like experiencing and learning Japanese history and culture. Any chance I get, I do so. Moreover, participating in these kinds of events has a good reflection on the United States, the U.S. Navy and relations between the two nations.”

The parade started at the Kamegaoka shrine located next to Zushi City Hall and continued through the city down to Zushi Beach.

After arriving at the beach, attendees were treated to a Yabusame demonstration.

Yabusame is a type of traditional Japanese archery where archers shoot at wooden targets while riding a horse at full gallop.

“The Samurai archery is very comparable to the way Native American Indians conducted their archery skills,” said Slate. “I also think the amount of armor samurai used to wear made it even more difficult for them during battle. The samurai stamina and skills were more challenged by that.”

Yabusame demonstrations between Zushi residents and U.S. military personnel serving in the area go back to the end of World War II.

“When U.S. forces occupied the Nagisa Hotel in Zushi in 1945, they practiced yabusame on the beach,” said Ikego Community Relations Specialist Michiko Kamioka.

The event proved to be a great way for Zushi residents and the CFAY community to engage with each other.

“I feel proud and happy to see foreigners appreciating my history and culture,” said Haruyuki Fujita, a local resident.

Slate, who volunteers to participate in any ceremony he can, thinks that people stationed here should take the opportunity to get to know the local culture.

“This event and other host nation events really give CFAY personnel an opportunity to experience the Japanese culture first hand and make new friends,” said Slate. “I think the overall event and ceremony were very rewarding because it made me feel more a part of the Japanese culture, which few people get to experience, at all.”

A female Yabusame (Japanese mounted archery) rider scores a bulls-eye during her run at the annual Yabusame Ceremony on Zushi Beach Nov. 20.



Navy photo by MCC Michael D. Kennedy