Dignitaries and guests from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Japan District; Hibiya Engineering; and the Department of Defense Education Activity’s Pacific region attend a traditional Jichinsai (Groundbreaking) ceremony at Yokota Air Force Base, Japan signaling the beginning of construction on a $9.6 million classroom upgrade project at Mendel Elementary School. The ceremony, administered by a Shinto chief priest before beginning construction, publicly expresses common wishes for safety and success during construction.