URASOE, OKINAWA PREFECTURE, Japan -- The Romans, Vikings and Chinese travelled the world using rowboats well before the invention of the sail. On Okinawa, the use of rowboats still continues in the form of dragon boat races.
A group of Marines with Camp Services on Camp Kinser competed in dragon boat races July 20 as part of the three-day “Tedako Matsuri” festival in Urasoe City, Okinawa.
The Kinser team made it to the second round, but lost in the second heat of that round.
“We didn’t expect to do so well in the first round,” said Lance Cpl. Sergio Ramos, a San Bernardino, California, native and tactical switching operator with Headquarters Regiment, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “To our surprise, we were one of the fastest teams in the first round.”
Ramos and his teammates maintained a positive attitude even after their loss, seeing the day as a positive experience, according to Capt. Jeremiah J. Culp, an Iowa native and Camp Services officer with the regiment. Training for the dragon boat races helped the Marines strengthen their trust in each other.
“The Marines have dramatically improved their communication skills and learned to work as a team towards a common goal,” said Culp. “If you’re not in synch with each other, you’re not going to go anywhere. Over the past few days, we’ve really had to work on functioning together and communicating.”
Urasoe hosts its Tedako Matsuri festival annually, originally setting the date by the lunar calendar, but now making it coincide with the first weekend after public schools are released for summer vacation. The name is Okinawan for “children of the sun festival” and honors Urasoe’s first king, Eiso, who is believed to have been the child of the sun. Other events during the festival included karaoke competitions, dancing, and “eisa,” a ceremonial dance with drums.
Okinawa community members are extremely welcoming to visiting service members and their families who want to participate in the local festivals, according to Yuya Takamura, a community relations specialist with Camp Kinser, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler.
“Many of the events involve one of us helping the other,” said Takamura. “Events like the Tedako festival are just about everyone coming together to have fun.”
Urasoe Mayor Tetsuji Matsumoto agreed, adding that cross-participation is a vital aspect to a healthy relationship between the installations and the surrounding community. Having a team from Kinser participate in the races was a welcome addition to the historic pastime.
“I’m sure the other teams would enjoy competing against more American teams next time. I hope we have at least one team from Kinser every year,” said Matsumoto. “We are the same community, so we need to continue to communicate and involve each other in our festivals.”