Japanese sister city delegation visits Idaho Falls

Idaho Falls is getting a visit from its sister this week, sister city from Japan that is.

Nine citizens from Tokai-mura, Japan are getting the full Idaho Falls experience this week. This is the 37th year for the sister cities exchange. The groups will share ideas about culture, education and more.

“Sister cities is a way for people to get along within the world,” said Cindy Ozaki, president of the Idaho Falls Sister Cities program. “And we can get along better if it’s people to people rather than politics so the whole idea is to learn about different countries.”

The group started their visit with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, an Idaho State football game and tours of city offices and the fire department. A reception was held Tuesday night for the two cities to swap gifts. This visit is extra special for one member of the Japanese delegation who actually lived in Idaho Falls 20 years ago.

“Just meeting the people,” said Hiroshi Sunaoshi, a former Idaho Falls resident. “Also some of the communication with them. I have a very good friend here and sometimes we’ll exchange emails. So this is just an exciting moment for me to be here.”

The two cities have a lot in common despite being thousands of miles apart. Both are leaders in nuclear energy and are potato growing regions. Tokai-mura Mayor Osamu Yamada said through an interpreter that they are happy to be here and learning from the area.

“Members in the Idaho Falls side have prepared the new experience for us so we are quite enjoying every program that you have scheduled so far,” said Noboru Aoyagi, Yamada’s interpreter. “So we are very happy to be involved.”

The group will visit the Idaho National Laboratory tomorrow, Grand Teton National Park Thursday, and visit different schools Friday. The Idaho Falls sister city delegation will visit Japan next year.