A few Yuba City officials and a number of local students recently visited Toride, Japan, as part of an annual trip through the Sister Cities International program. They had a chance to build relationships and learn more about a different culture for a week.
This fall will mark the 30th anniversary of the relationship between officials from Yuba City and Toride, an agricultural community located by a river and small mountain range in the Ibaraki Prefecture, which is about an hour north of Tokyo. The program – Sister Cities International – was created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 as a way to create bonds between people from different cities around the world.
Yuba City Mayor Shon Harris and economic growth and public affairs director Darin Gale served as the local delegates for the trip, along with about 15 students from school districts within the city. The group left the state on Feb. 11 and returned Monday.
“The students definitely had a life-changing experience, as did I. It’s different than just going and staying in a hotel. By staying with a local family, it’s like you have a sort of backstage pass to their culture. You get to see real people and not just what everybody else sees from the tourist destinations. The people there are so gracious and humble and want to make sure you are having a good time,” Harris said.
As part of the program, participants stayed with families in Toride, getting to learn the many facets of the Japanese culture.
Aside from building relationships with their counterparts, delegates had an opportunity to practice their Japanese calligraphy, play cultural instruments, eat traditional meals, go to the state capitol and visit a giant statute of Buddha, among other things. Harris also gave a handful of speeches during his time there, emphasizing the importance of the Sister City program and what it means for Yuba City.
“I told them that even though there might be an ocean between us, when they look to the east, I want them to know they have many friends looking back with admiration,” he said.
Delegates from both sides exchanged gifts. Local representatives were given a lantern with “Yuba City” written on it in Japanese calligraphy, as well as a type of origami with two dancing dolls. Harris presented the Japanese delegates with a baseball bat custom made in Yuba City signed by local baseball standouts, brothers Max and Brock Stassi, along with some general swag items emblazoned with the Yuba City logo.
When delegates from Toride visit the area later this year, local officials are planning on putting together a 30th anniversary celebration.
“It exceeded everything I anticipated. It was absolutely wonderful,” Harris said.
