Ontario — This year, Ontario celebrates its 40 year anniversary with sister city Osakasayama in Osaka, Japan. Since the two cities were designated as sisters by Sister Cities International in 1973, about 700 Japanese citizens have visited Ontario and nearly 500 local residents have traveled to Osakasayama as part of the exchange program. This builds relationships and allows Japanese and American citizens to learn about the other’s culture. In March, five Japanese teenage students visited Ontario for 12 days, during which they stayed with host families and participated in activities such as horse back riding and taking plane tours of the countryside. “This is valuable experience for me because I couldn’t have new sight if I was in only Japan,” said Kaito Kinoshita, 20. “I could learn that sometimes I have to break my notion once because there are so many ideas from other point of view.” Kinoshita said she hopes to return to Ontario. “On this program, I feel Ontario citizen’s warmth. When I was shopping with Kami at supermarket, a stranger spoke to me and gave me souvenir,” Kinoshita said. “Many citizens welcomed us like and it was so surprising to me.” Kanna Tsuji said her favorite part of the United States “is that everyone co-exists beyond races.” As for the sister city relationship between Osakasayama and Ontario, Tsuji, 16, said she believes “it is very important relationship, and hope it will expand from now on.” In June, 11 Ontario residents visited Osakasayama for ten days to be immersed in Japanese culture. Matt Stringer, who traveled to Osakasayama, said the best part of the program was staying with families of the culture. “You really have a better understanding of where you are, rather than being in a hotel,” said Stringer, who is the executive director of Four Rivers Cultural Center. Ontario residents stayed with host families and participated in activities such as visiting museums and markets. Oregon citizens also attended a 40th anniversary reception with the mayor of Osakasayama, Tomoyoshi Yoshida. “This year is really a special time and the folks in Osakasayama are really treating it as so,” said Cathy Yasuda, Foundation Executive Director at Treasure Valley Community College and one of the advisors for the sister program. Those who traveled to Japan did a crash language course before leaving in an effort to learn some Japanese. “We have such a large Japanese population in this community,” Stringer said. “They’re a great resource for us.” In the upcoming months, Osakasayama is planning on sending two separate groups to Ontario, including a group of teachers who would like to learn about American teaching methods and curriculum, Yasuda said. “It’s about building those ties that will last for a long time,” she said. Yasuda said one Japanese citizen who had visited Ontario as a student returned several years later to surprise their host family in Ontario. The sister city program does not receiving funding from the city, but has received funds from the Ontario Visitors and Convention Board, the Ontario Lions Club and the Snake River Japanese American Citizens League. The history of Ontario’s sister city dates back in the mid 1960s when then mayor Morgan Beck suggested that Ontario obtain a sister city in Japan. Ten years later, Ontario mayor Leonard Cates and Osakasayama mayor Etsuji Yoshikawa executed the official document in Ontario. Stringer said he thinks every community should have a sister city. “Its just one of the most obvious ways to generate tolerance, respect and appreciation for other cultures,” he said. If you would like to contribute to the sister city program is some way, or are willing to host Japanese citizens this summer, contact Cathy Yasuda at (541) 881-5585 or [email protected].
Posted on: Wed, 24 Jul 2013 21:01:12 +0000
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