Jazz bassist’s musical tale

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jeremy Laukhuf, U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia Jazz Combo bassist, tunes his bass for a performance at the Misawa Municipal First Preschool Dec. 10, 2012, Misawa City, Japan. The band is a five-piece arrangement consisting of drums, base, guitar, saxophone and keyboard. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

Jazz bassist’s musical tale

Children from the Misawa Municipal First Preschool listen to the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia Jazz Combo play an arrangement of Christmas songs Dec. 10, 2012, Misawa City, Japan. After the band’s set, the children presented them with handmade paper medallions as a gift of appreciation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

Making Mochi: pounding fun, spiritually powered rice cakes

Ceremony workers slice fresh mochi, a type of traditional Japanese rice cake, during the annual mochi-pounding ceremony at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force gym at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 14, 2012. American and Japanese participants worked together to pound the rice into the traditional Japanese treat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson)

Making Mochi: pounding fun, spiritually powered rice cakes

Maj. Gen. Tamotsu Kidono, Japan Air Self-Defense Force 3rd Air Wing commander, spoke during the annual mochi-pounding ceremony in the JASDF gym at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 14, 2012. After making the glutinous rice into gummy rice cakes, guests and participants were given the opportunity to eat them. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson)

Misawa leaders support safety and crime prevention campaign

Members of the Misawa safety patrol wear a green reflective armband, which reads ‘safety’ in Kanji, so the local community would be able to spot them in the dark out in Misawa City, Japan, Dec. 17, 2012. Several organizations, including Misawa’s Police Force and Misawa Air Base leadership participated at the campaign. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson)

Misawa leaders support safety and crime prevention campaign

Kauzmasa Taneichi, Misawa City mayor, speaks during the end-of-year Traffic Safety and Crime Prevention Campaign at Misawa Police Station, Misawa City, Japan, Dec. 17, 2012. The event was held to encourage the Japanese community and Misawa Air Base service members to cooperate in eliminating crime and traffic accidents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson)

Misawa tips off intramural basketball season

Cooper DeQuinn, 35th Force Support Squadron forward, steps up to shoot a 3-pointer during his team’s game at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 12, 2012. Fans looked on as 3-pointers played a big role in the 35 FSS win against the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron Team B, with a score of 64-62. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Kee)

Misawa tips off intramural basketball season

Rene Garza, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron Team B guard, looks for an open teammate during their game against the 35th Force Support Squadron at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 12, 2012. The game remained close the whole night, but the 35 FSS got the win over the 35 CES Team B by a score of 64-62. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Kee)

Cookie Caper brings goodies

Each year, volunteers ask the Misawa community to bake sweets for distribution to single and unaccompanied service members on the base. This year, Misawa Air Base’s annual Cookie Caper pulled in 31,800 cookies, which would be delivered to the service members by their first sergeants. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kia Atkins)

Cookie Caper brings goodies

Jasmine Chandler, Cookie Caper volunteer, packages cookies during the base’s annual Cookie Caper at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 11, 2012. Base community members and volunteers baked, donated and packaged a variety of cookies, which were delivered to single, unaccompanied servicemembers unable to spend the holiday season with their families. Each cookie tray included a holiday card from well-wishers. The event, sponsored by the Misawa Officers’ and Enlisted Spouses’ Clubs, gathered a total of 31,800 cookies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kia Atkins)

Cookie Caper brings goodies

Jessica Caisse and her daughter scoop cookie dough into balls during the base’s annual Cookie Caper at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 10, 2012. Caisse and her daughter were Cookie Caper volunteers for Girl Scout Troop 46. Girl Scout Troop 46 made a total of 41 dozen cookies, which added to the base’s overall total of 31,800. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kia Atkins)

Misawa throws holiday party hop

A Japanese student from Hachinohe School for the Deaf and Blind, left, admires his gift during the Operation Eyesight Christmas party at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8, 2012. Toward the end of the party, children received presents and sweet treats. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson)