Public Diplomacy

Tsuchiura, a historic castle town, and Palo Alto, the heart of Silicon Valley, have developed a friendship over 36 years. Through junior high school student exchanges, students have learned about each other’s cultures and values, and have built bonds that transcend borders. This article introduces stories of friendship and exchange that will shape the future.

Since signing a friendship and partnership agreement in 2017, Hokkaido and the State of Hawaii have been deepening their exchanges across a wide range of fields, including education, the economy, and culture. In May of this year, the “Hokkaido Business Seminar” was held in Honolulu to showcase Hokkaido’s investment environment and business appeal in areas such as renewable energy, AI, and semiconductors. The seminar also highlighted Hokkaido's food and industry-academia collaboration through the first-ever introduction of "Hokudai Brand" certified products in Hawaii, featuring products developed using Hokkaido University's research achievements and regional resources.

Sagae City, Yamagata Prefecture, which is twinned with Giresun in the Republic of Türkiye—the birthplace of cherries—visited the city for the first time in 13 years following the COVID-19 pandemic. The visit marked the resumption and strengthening of exchanges through a meeting between the two mayors, the unveiling of a cherry-themed commemorative monument, and participation in an international cultural festival. The delegation also monitored a search and rescue vehicle donated to Giresun by the Embassy of Japan in Türkiye, highlighting new opportunities for sister-city cooperation.

Through the Host Town exchange program for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Yaizu City in Shizuoka Prefecture and Mongolia have been building their relationship. In 2024, Yaizu City established a friendship city partnership with Chingeltei District of Ulaanbaatar and has been promoting exchanges across a wide range of fields, including youth exchange programs and sports.