(Right to Left) Col. Sergio Vega, 374th Airlift Wing vice commander, and Jay Brown, Department of Defense Special Representative Japan director, pound steamed rice to make rice cakes during a rice pounding event hosted by Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Operations Support Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Dec. 12, 2018. Mochi-tsuki, or the act of pounding rice to make mochi (rice cakes), is a traditional event in Japan in preparation for the New Year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Machiko Arita)