Yokota Monuments

A pair of komainu, or lion-dogs, stand guard outside the Yuko Park and Sakura Shell at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 30, 2016. Komainu are often placed in front of shrines, gates and houses where they are said to provide protection from evil spirits. Common belief is that the open and closed mouths are derived from Buddhist symbolism. The mouths are shaped forming the sounds “a” and “un” which combine to form “a-un” which is the Japanese rendition of the Indian word 'om.’ Originating in Hinduism and adopted by Buddhism, the word’s meaning seems somewhat vague at times, but is sometimes described as the name of God or the sound of the vibration of the universe. In Japan, “a” and “un” are also symbolic of beginnings and endings, in the same way that Western countries use alpha and omega. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Senior Airman David C. Danford/Released)

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Yokota Monuments

A Mitsubishi F-1 and F-86 Sabre are displayed outside the 5th Air Force, U.S. Forces, Japan and Japan Air Self-Defense Force headquarters at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 30, 2016. The Sabre was given to the base by the JASDF honoring the 5AF pilots who flew the aircraft during the Korean War. The Mitsubishi F-1 was Japan's first domestically developed supersonic military jet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David C. Danford/Released)

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Yokota Monuments

The Kofu rock is displayed in the distinguished visitor garden at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 30, 2016. This rock was presented to Tama Army Airfield by Emperor Hirohito (Showa) after an inspection held Apr. 10, 1944. Kofu rocks are a kind of volcanic rock often seen in the Yamanashi Prefecture and during the Samurai period was regarded as a symbol of Japanese solidarity. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David C. Danford/Released)

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Yokota Monuments

The Tomodachi statue, built on May 31, 2001, by a Yokota High School art teacher and his students commemorating the friendship between the U.S. and Japan, stands on a median on Friendship Boulevard at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 25, 2016. More than 60 students collaborated to make the statue, using 550 pounds of clay. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David C. Danford/Released)

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Yokota Monuments

A last alarm memorial rests outside the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron firehouse at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 30, 2016, paying tribute to Airmen and Japanese firefighters who lost their lives combatting a crashed aircraft fire. The last alarm, sometimes referred to as the last call, is a firefighter funeral tradition honoring members who died in the line-of-duty. In the past, firefighters began and ended their shifts and responded to emergencies at the sound of a bell, so during the ceremony a bell is rung signifying that the departed have completed their duties and can rest. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David C. Danford/Released)

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Yokota Monuments

A komainu statue stands in front of the Yokota's Officer's Club at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 25, 2016. The statue is one of a matched pair that were donated to the base commemorating the friendship between base leadership and local community leaders. Komainu, also known as lion-dogs, are often found in front of shrines, gates or houses and are said to provide protection. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David C. Danford/Released)

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Yokota Monuments

The distinguished visitor garden located between the flightline and 374th Operations Group headquarters at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 30, 2016. The extended garden was designed by Yoshitaka Yamaguchi and has existed in some form since Yokota was the Tama Army Airfield. The garden hosts multiple monuments including a prisoner-of-war/missing-in-action memorial and the Kofu rock. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David C. Danford/Released)

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Yokota Monuments

A prisoner-of-war/missing-in-action memorial dedicated to service members lost throughout Southeast Asia is displayed in the distinguished visitor garden at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 30, 2016. The memorial references the Japanese fighting koi fish found in the nearby pond, comparing their perseverance to the missing service members. In Japanese mythology the koi was recognized by the gods for its determination in swimming up a waterfall and transforming into a dragon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David C. Danford/Released)

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Yokota Monuments

Published Sept. 1, 2016
By Senior Airman David C. Danford
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- A pair of komainu, or lion-dogs, stand guard outside the Yuko Park and Sakura Shell at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 30, 2016. Komainu are often placed in front of shrines, gates and houses where they are said to provide protection from evil spirits. Common belief is that the open and closed mouths are derived from Buddhist symbolism. The mouths are shaped forming the sounds “a” and “un” which combine to form “a-un” which is the Japanese rendition of the Indian word 'om.’ Originating in Hinduism and adopted by Buddhism, the word’s meaning seems somewhat vague at times, but is sometimes described as the name of God or the sound of the vibration of the universe. In Japan, “a” and “un” are also symbolic of beginnings and endings, in the same way that Western countries use alpha and omega. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Senior Airman David C. Danford/Released)