Tyler welcomes delegation from sister city Yachiyo, Japan

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – An official welcome to the Rose Capital America will be held Thursday morning at Tyler City Hall, honoring a delegation from its sister city Yachiyo, Japan.

The group of 15 representatives arrived Wednesday night and will participate in four days of cultural tours, meetings, and opportunities to engage with members of the community and civic leaders.

Thursday morning, Tyler Mayor Don Warren will lead an official recognition ceremony with city employees and members of the city council.

This visit marks the 30th official trip by Yachiyo and Tyler since the cities formalized a sister city partnership in 1992.

Some of the highlights of the itinerary, organized by the Tyler Sister Cities organization, include meetings with Tyler Junior College and the University of Texas at Tyler, UT Health- Tyler and CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Hospital, Tyler’s Azalea & Spring Flower Trail, a visit to the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden, and attending the East Texas Symphony Orchestra’s 90th Anniversary.

Sunday, a dedication ceremony is planned for a new addition to the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden. A bench near the Tyler Sister Cities peace pole will honor the legacy of Tony Tadasa, a key member of the organization who is credited with strengthening the Tyler-Yachiyo relationship. Tadasa was born in Japan, but moved to Tyler to study at Tyler Junior College, later becoming a beloved member of the community. Some of the participants in this visit from Yachiyo knew Tadasa from past trips.

In fact, nearly half of the this week’s delegation have previously visited Tyler. A diverse cross-section of Yachiyo residents, the group is made up of young adults to retirees. Some of the occupations represented include: a nurse, an architect, teachers, Yachiyo city workers, consultants, and the former three-term mayor of Yachiyo who also served in Japan’s House of Councillors and the Chiba Prefectural Assembly.

HISTORY OF COOPERATION

The partnership with Yachiyo is the oldest of Tyler’s active sister city partnerships. In May 1991, delegates from Yachiyo City visited Tyler City Hall to propose hiring school instructors from Tyler to teach English for one-year terms. Later that year, the first two teachers from Tyler went to Yachiyo, working in a junior high school as part of a pilot program. This collaboration led to a formal sister city agreement in 1992. Both cities are home to well-known rose gardens, which serve as a symbolic starting point for cultural and business ties.

Representatives of the city of Yachiyo, Japan and Tyler, Texas meet at Tyler City Hall on May 29, 1991 to discuss opportunities as sister cities.(Source: Tyler Sisiter Cities Organization)

Over the decades, the cities have maintained a biennial visit rotation, in addition to hosting groups from the Yachiyo Boys and Girls Choir and the Tyler Junior College dance team. To date, the two cities have sponsored 30 official trips, with more than 790 participants. The Tyler-Yachiyo Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) Program, which is currently on pause, has put more nearly 50 East Texas educators in Japanese classrooms, serving as English language role models for students.