VOLUME 6 NO. 40 JANUARY 10 – JANUARY 16, 2020 FREE SUBMIT STORIES TO: [email protected] FACEBOOK.COM/STRIPESPACIFIC INSIDE INFO WHERE TO FIND TASTY Okinawa Kenpo OKINAWAN FARE IN TOKYO PAGE 12 YOU’LL BE SWEET ON MEIJI CHOCOLATE FACTORY Birthplace PAGE 13 of karate fights SUBMIT A PHOTO FOR THE COVER OF for tradition as Olympic sport goes global Pages 8-10 ‘LIFE-CHANGING’ JOURNEY Got a great shot of mainland Japan, Okinawa, Korea or Zama employee finds success as bodybuilder Guam? If so, submit it STORY AND PHOTOS BY NORIKO KUDO, Hashiguchi later learned the man was a former and maybe it’ll end up US ARMY GARRISON on the front page of all-Japan champion in the sport. “I didn’t believe him at all,” said Hashiguchi. :HOFRPHWRWKH3DFLÀF CAMP ZAMA – Eight years ago, before Kaoru “But at the same time, I thought that if he was seri- Hashiguchi knew anything about posing, flexing or Photo deadline: Jan. 15 ous, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.” “bulking,” he was just a fitness enthusiast who one Hashiguchi decided to accept the challenge and day went to a well-known gym in Tokyo with the soon began a three-year journey of learning the ins goal of taking his workout to the next level. and outs of bodybuilding. This of course included A trainer at the gym approached Hashiguchi a lot of time training at the gym, but Hashiguchi and told him that, with the proper training, he had also changed his diet completely—everything from the potential to be a competitive bodybuilder. what he ate, to how he ate. “It was totally unexpected,” said Hashiguchi, 56, Based on his experience, Hashiguchi says the an accounting technician with the 78th Signal Bat- ideal body is crafted 60 percent from proper nutri- talion at Camp Zama, Japan, who has worked on tion and 40 percent from exercise. Facebook.com/StripesPacific the installation for nearly 30 years. “I didn’t know “My family also changed their diet to lose stripesjapan.com who he was, nor did I really comprehended what he was saying.” SEE BODYBUILDER ON PAGE 2 KaoKaK ruu HHasasshighih uchi 2 STRIPES JAPAN A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION JANUARY 10 − JANUARY 16, 2020 BODYBUILDER: ‘Never too late to change’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 gotten to meet and interact with people of so Max D. Lederer Jr. Publisher many different ages and backgrounds.” weight and become healthier after seeing the Lt. Col. Richard E. McClintic Yukio Kondo, an administrative special- Commander dramatic change in my body and listening to ist with the 836th Transportation Battalion, Joshua M Lashbrook my philosophy during my training process,” trains for physique competitions and said Chief of Staff Hashiguchi said. Chris Verigan Hashiguchi gives him advice and detailed in- Finally, in 2015, Hashiguchi entered the Engagement Director formation on how to train and eat effectively, 23rd Tokyo Open Bodybuilding Champion- Marie Woods in order to see positive results. Publishing and Media Design Director ship. Despite having trained for three years, “Mr. Hashiguchi’s advice is always spe- Chris Carlson it was still his first competition, so Hashigu- Publishing and Media Design Manager cific and precise, no matter what I ask,” said chi said he did not know what to expect—or Eric Lee Kondo. “He speaks from experience. Having Advertising and Circulation Manager even what to do—once he got onstage. his support in the gym gives me the motiva- Monte Dauphin From the stage, Hashiguchi could see his Japan Area Manager tion to train more effectively.” trainer in his eye line for the duration of his Kentaro Shimura Training with others and being able to Production Manager performance. Using gestures, his trainer Kaoru Hashiguchi helps Yukio Kondo with a weightlifting exercise Sept. 3 at the Sagamihara Gion share the knowledge and techniques he has Rie Miyoshi guided him through the entire posing and Engagement Manager Arena in Sagamihara City. accrued over the years truly brings him joy, flexing process. The result, Hashiguchi said, Denisse Rauda Hashiguchi says. He is proud to work for Publishing and Media Design Editor “was more than [he] ever could have imag- Hashiguchi works out daily, typically dur- Publishing and Media Design Writers ined.” ing lunchtime, at Camp Zama’s Yano Fitness an organization like the U.S. Army, which ChiHon Kim emphasizes the importance of maintaining Shoji Kudaka “I ended up being named champion in the Center. Located just a short drive from where Takahiro Takiguchi men’s 65 kg and under [weight] division,” he works, Yano is where “everything started” physical and mental health, and which offers Layout Designers access to fitness centers like Yano. Yukiyo Oda Hashiguchi said. for Hashiguchi’s fitness journey, he said. Yuko Okazaki Since winning at the Tokyo Open, Hashi- Having regular access to Yano, which has Entering the world of bodybuilding has Kayoko Shimoda guchi has continued to train and participate no membership fees, unlike expensive pri- changed him both inside and out, Hashiguchi Multimedia Consultants Max Genao Doug Johnson in other bodybuilding competitions. Though vate fitness centers outside the installation, says. Brian Jones Jason Lee “It has been a life-changing experience Hans Simpson Chae Pang Yi he has not won another title since then, is one of the best benefits of working for the Gianni Youn Robert Zuckerman Hashiguchi says he has made it to the finals U.S. Army as a Japanese civilian, Hashiguchi for me,” Hashiguchi said. “It has been an Graphic Designers many times. says. amazing journey.” Kenichi Ogasawara Yosuke Tsuji Although he still works out regularly, Because of his physique and his obvious Well into his middle age, Hashiguchi says Sales Support Kazumi Hasegawa Hiromi Isa Hashiguchi said he took a break this year familiarity with form and technique, Hashi- he has no plans to slow down his fitness regi- Ichiro Katayanagi Yoko Noro men. In fact, he is planning to become a li- Yusuke Sato Chae Yon Son from training specifically for bodybuilding. guchi says other patrons often approach him Saori Tamanaha Toshie Yoshimizu However, he has set a goal for next year for advice. censed personal trainer after his retirement. to enter more competitions and become a “Soldiers, local national employees and ci- “It is never too late to make a change and get healthier,” said Hashiguchi. “Anybody For feedback and inquiries, champion again. It will be a challenge be- vilian employees come up to me and ask me contact [email protected] cause bodybuilding has only become more questions on how to train properly, what to can change their body, regardless of their To place an ad, call DSN 227-7370 popular and competitive since he began eat, how to lose weight, and how to get ide- age. And I can truly say that because I did stripesjapan.com/contact training, Hashiguchi said. al fitness results,” Hashiguchi said. “I have it myself.” JANUARY 10 − JANUARY 16, 2020 A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION STRIPES JAPAN 3 Patient Mei Takehisa, 5, has her photo taken with Santa Wayne Baxter of 374 Civil Engineers and sidekick Suzu Yae of NPO Mannakano-ie. Volunteers bring Christmas cheer to children’s hospital STORY AND PHOTOS BY visited patients, delivered pres- MIKE VAN HOECKE, ents, and had their photos taken STRIPES JAPAN on busy cell phones. These sea- sonal celebrities were often ac- was not the night before companied by the same storm Christmas, but it was well before dawn, when a truck- troopers, a large walking snow- T man, multicolored Kanto clowns load of gifts and four vans-loads with balloon presents, or a lovely of helpers left the Yokota Base walking Christmas tree. West Gate to celebrate a holiday Then there were the rein- ritual December 6th. For the sev- deer and elves, many of whom enth straight year, this convoy were taken from the ranks of headed south to Kanagawa Chil- young civil engineers at Yokota. dren’s Medical Center where They added splashes of green many good boys and girls were and brown to the moving party struggling with life-threatening as well as helpful hands. In the illnesses and birth defects. At lobby, an elf trio played island the trip’s end were children from tunes that included a hula per- infant to about age 17 who were formance for the benefit of out- receiving care for cancer, cardio- patients. Navy blue and Army vascular problems, and congeni- green also arrived in two gleam- tal illnesses. Since many patients ing brass quintets to play holiday were tethered by bandages, favorites such as Rudolf the Red- breathing tubes, or intravenous nose Reindeer and Jingle Bells. drips, this party was coming to These members of the 7th Fleet them. Shonan Brass Quintet and the On this special day, volunteers USARJ Band of the Pacific Brass from throughout the Kanto Plain Quintet integrated seamlessly to would join the Yokota Sons of provide quality carols not only Hawaii Club to create a colorful in the lobby, but in the cafeteria fantasy to chase away the night- and in staff areas where work- mare that illness often brings. ers were anchored to constant Astonished patients and par- administrative tasks. Event or- ents marveled as tall Star War ganizer Fern Fields said having Imperial Storm troopers, clad in both branches play together was white armor, travelled down the a first, and the show of fraternity corridors as casually as the med- was as impressive as … well … ical staff. Four crimson Santas six-foot stormtroopers saunter- and accompanying Mrs. Santas ing down the corridor.