MADISON (WKOW) — A delegation from Madison is set to visit Obihiro, Japan next week to strengthen ties with its sister city.
Organized by the Madison-Obihiro Sister Cities Inc. board, the trip aims to promote peace and cultural understanding. Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway will lead the delegation, with no tax dollars spent on the trip.
“I want to thank Obihiro Mayor Yonezawa for graciously agreeing to host us in his beautiful city in the Tokachi Subprefecture,” Rhodes-Conway said. “I’m looking forward to further strengthening our relationship with Obihiro through people-to-people international diplomacy.”
The delegation includes several city officials and members of the Madison-Obihiro board. Board President Jo Oyama Miller emphasized the importance of cultural exchange.
“I am thrilled to be able to work with our friends in Obihiro to create this opportunity to deepen the City of Madison’s relationship with our sister city,” Oyama Miller said.
Vice President MGR Govindarajan expressed pride in representing Madison’s legislative branch, especially as an immigrant.
“I’ve experienced the importance and value of building bridges across cultures and borders,” Govindarajan said.
Ald. Yannette Figueroa-Cole aims to learn from Obihiro’s urban planning and services.
“This is a unique opportunity to see how another local government provides services to its residents,” Figueroa-Cole said.
Patrick Miles, Chair of the Dane County Board, shared personal significance in the visit.
“For twenty years, our partnership with Obihiro has been a bridge across the globe,” Miles said. “For me, this is also a personal journey — my first visit to Japan, the country my mother called home.”
The delegation will explore Obihiro’s government and culture from July 2-12. Obihiro, with a population of 160,000, became Madison’s sister city in 2006 due to shared characteristics. The visit underscores the ongoing commitment to global cooperation.
Learn more about Madison’s sister cities here.
AloJapan.com