Marine Corps Community Services held the 2011 Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Car Show here Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Approximately 30 participants entered the event to entertain the crowd with their custom vehicles.
“We went out to our Japanese friends and asked them to come out and show off their cars and then we asked people on station to join in the festivities,” said Tony B. Martinez, MCCS special events coordinator.
In addition to the car show, a live band, The 13s, performed at the event, and bounce houses were set up for children.
A wide variety of vehicles participated in the car show.
“The Exchange Car Sales also came out and showed off some of their stuff,” said Martinez.
Off-base residents brought a lot of their own American vehicles to show off during the meet.
“Low riders are a huge deal in Japan,” said Martinez. “The Japanese nationals absolutely love American cars.”
By inviting off-base residents to come aboard station to participate in the car show, MCCS was able to show examples of American culture.
“The event gives a different venue for Japanese nationals to meet up (instead) of a marathon or concert, where people don’t want to do things like that, where they just want to come out here, hang out, soak up the culture, make friends, meet and have some good food,” said Jeramie Johnson, MCCS safety officer.
The main goal of this event was to try and create a better friendship between off-base residents and base personnel who share a common interest.
“Hope they get a better understanding on how we operate on this base how friendly we are and hopefully they will be back next year and bring their friends,” said Johnson.
This was the second annual car show MCCS has held, and the event is scheduled to take place again next year.
“We are going to try and continue this event on the first Saturday in October every year, but the specific date depends on station operations,” said Johnson.
Those who attended last year’s event were really looking forward to the car show this year.
The participants and atendees were excited to compare it to the previous year’s festivities.
“It is a great event,” said Souichi Ishida, a car enthusiast who brought out his own 1936 low-ride hot rod. “I came out to the one last year and enjoyed it.”
“Next year we will be out here doing the same thing, come on out and have some fun,” said Johnson.
The mission of the event was to bring together different types of people who share a common interest.
“People love cars no matter what language you speak or what you do,” said Johnson.