Yokota leaders participate in DoDEA facility groundbreaking ceremony U.S. Air Force Logo Sept. 11, 2023 Yokota leaders participate in DoDEA facility groundbreaking ceremony A Shinto priest performs a purification ritual during a groundbreaking ceremony, Sept. 1, 2023, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Ji-Chin-Sa'i is performed by a Shinto priest to purify a ceremonial plot of land in preparation for arriving gods. The ceremony offers a venue to present offerings of vegetables, fruits, rice, and sake to the gods, and to recite prayers to appease them upon arrival. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Hannah Bean) Details Download Yokota leaders participate in DoDEA facility groundbreaking ceremony U.S. Air Force Col. Andrew Roddan, 374th Airlift Wing commander, performs a ritual ‘first ploughing’ during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Department of Defense Education Activity Pacific East District superintendent office, Sept. 1, 2023, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The ceremony included a Shinto blessing, to purify the site and wish safety on the construction crew, offerings and prayers from the project partners, and a sacred sake rite. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Hannah Bean) Details Download Yokota leaders participate in DoDEA facility groundbreaking ceremony (From left) Dr. Jaqueline Ferguson, Department of Defense Education Activity district superintendent, James Wolff, United States Army Corps of Engineers construction division chief, and Col. Ryan Vetter, 374th Mission Support Group commander, break ground for the construction site of a new superintendent office, Sept. 1, 2023, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The ceremony, also known as a Ji-Chin-Sa'i which means "land-appeasing ceremony," is a Shinto ritual held prior to commencement of a construction project. The ritual includes praying for workers' safety during the construction and owners' and occupants' prosperity beyond completion of the project. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Hannah Bean) Details Download Yokota leaders participate in DoDEA facility groundbreaking ceremony (From left) Kazuo Nakatani, Nippo Corporation Kanto Architectural Branch manager, Hiroaki Yamanashi, Nippo Corporation project manager, and Suguru Anan, Nippo Corporation project superintendent, perform a digging ritual during a groundbreaking ceremony, Sept. 1, 2023, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The ceremony, also known as a Ji-Chin-Sa'i which means "land-appeasing ceremony," is a Shinto ritual held prior to commencement of a construction project. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Hannah Bean) Details Download Yokota leaders participate in DoDEA facility groundbreaking ceremony A Shinto priest leads attendees in a sacred sake ritual during a groundbreaking ceremony for a Department of Defense Education Activity Pacific East district superintendent office at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Sept. 1, 2023. The purpose of the Shinto ceremony is to purify the site of the new building and wish safety on the construction crew. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Hannah Bean) Details Download Yokota leaders participate in DoDEA facility groundbreaking ceremony Members from Yokota Air Base, Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Nippo Corporation pose for a group photo during a groundbreaking ceremony for the DoDEA Pacific East district superintendent office at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Sept. 1, 2023. The purpose of the Shinto ceremony is to purify the site of the new building and wish safety on the construction crew. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Hannah Bean) Details Download YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan— Representatives from Yokota Air Base, Department of Defense Education Activity, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Nippo Corporation performed a groundbreaking ceremony for a new DoDEA Pacific East District superintendent office at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Sept. 1. The ceremony included a Shinto blessing to purify the site and wish safety on the construction crew, offerings and prayers from the project partners, and a sacred sake rite.