The purpose of a Sister City relationship is to exchange information, arts, culture, resources and assistance between the two cities. The City of Richmond has established three Sister City relationships: Shimada, Japan in 1961; Zhoushan, China in 1993; and Regla, Cuba in 1999. The City of Richmond is also a member of the US Cuba Sister City Association and Sister Cities International. These support associations assist our sister city projects and exchanges with continuing resources, information and tools to maintain and enhance the programs. “Two deeply held convictions unite us in common purpose. First, is our belief in effective, responsive, local government as a principal bulwark of freedom; second, is our faith in the great promise of Sister City affiliations in helping build the solid structure of world peace.” -President Dwight D. Eisenhower Shirley and I have visited our sister cities in Cuba and China, but this is our first visit to Shimada, making it a sister city trifecta. It is the first time I have been back to Japan since 1970. Shimada is a city located in Shizuoka Prefecture of central Japan. It distributes lumber products, manufactures machinery and produces food products. Tea and Mandarin oranges are cultivated on the plateau near the city. During the Edo Period (1600-1868), Shimada was a crossing point for the Oi River and was a prosperous post-station town on the Tokaido highway. Because of its importance in cross-Japan travel, Shimada has been depicted in woodblock prints by Utagawa Hiroshige and in poetry by Matsuo Basho, a 17th century poet who helped perfect the art of haiku. Visit the Shimada Friendship Ambassador webpage at www.RichmondFriendship.org to learn about past and upcoming activities. Joining our delegation for this trip are City Council member Demnlus Johnson, City Council staff Liaison Trina Jackson-Lincoln, and Shimada Friendship Commission members and guest Evan Sirchuk (chair), Jami Brown, Valerie Snider, Steve Pinto, Steven Kirby, Charlie Sirchuk, and Evie Kyritsis.

After an 11-hour flight, we arrived at the Tokyo Narita International Airport and after spending the night in an airport hotel, were picked up by a bus sent from Shimada with two young ladies as hostesses. It was about a six-hour drive to Shimada, including rest and lunch stops.

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