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Independence, MO —
International relationships like the one that began more than three decades ago between Independence and Higashimurayama, Japan, are especially important when one nation faces a crisis, the consul general of Japan based in Chicago said Sunday.
“I am convinced that our relationship is so strong because it is rooted in our people-to-people exchange,” Consul General Okamura Yoshifumi said at the 24th annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Independence.
Independence and Higashimurayama represent one of 73 sister-state and sister-city relationships throughout Okamura’s jurisdiction.
He spoke of last year’s devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan and how the country has overcome many challenges in the past, including war, pollution and rising oil prices.
“It was a huge tragedy,” the consul general said, “but at the same time, it reminded us that our relationship is strong and deep. ... We will always remember your friendship.”
Along with the aftermath of the natural disaster, Japan also faces a longtime recession and an aging population. Okamura said the solutions will come through environmental safety, new energy creation and disaster relief.
“We will share what we learn and what we generate from this tough challenge,” he said. “Japan is coming back, and Japan will become a stronger and better nation.”
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Washington, D.C., receiving 3,000 cherry blossom trees as a gift from Tokyo. Reading in Japanese and in English, Okamura presented Independence Mayor Don Reimal a commendation from the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba.
About 300 people attended Sunday’s festival at the Roger T. Sermon Community Center, with $1,200 being raised toward the summer student exchange program.
“The Cherry Blossom Festival was a beautiful experience to all who braved the rain to join us,” Jeannae Segura-Brown, the festival’s chairwoman, said. “The feeling that we are doing something important for our community and even the larger world is what motivates the members of the Japanese Sister City Committee.”
In the festival’s opening ceremonies, Carolyn Weeks was “crowned” (or rather, a sash was placed around her shoulder) as the first-ever Cherry Blossom Festival queen. Carolyn was one of the founders of the Japanese Sister City Committee.
Weeks’ involvement began in 1977 when she was the executive assistant to Mayor Richard King. King, a believer in the power of friendship, had endorsed the sister city relationship with Higashimurayama and then charged Weeks with finding citizens to form a committee.
International relationships like the one that began more than three decades ago between Independence and Higashimurayama, Japan, are especially important when one nation faces a crisis, the consul general of Japan based in Chicago said Sunday.
“I am convinced that our relationship is so strong because it is rooted in our people-to-people exchange,” Consul General Okamura Yoshifumi said at the 24th annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Independence.
Independence and Higashimurayama represent one of 73 sister-state and sister-city relationships throughout Okamura’s jurisdiction.
He spoke of last year’s devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan and how the country has overcome many challenges in the past, including war, pollution and rising oil prices.
“It was a huge tragedy,” the consul general said, “but at the same time, it reminded us that our relationship is strong and deep. ... We will always remember your friendship.”
Along with the aftermath of the natural disaster, Japan also faces a longtime recession and an aging population. Okamura said the solutions will come through environmental safety, new energy creation and disaster relief.
“We will share what we learn and what we generate from this tough challenge,” he said. “Japan is coming back, and Japan will become a stronger and better nation.”
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Washington, D.C., receiving 3,000 cherry blossom trees as a gift from Tokyo. Reading in Japanese and in English, Okamura presented Independence Mayor Don Reimal a commendation from the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba.
About 300 people attended Sunday’s festival at the Roger T. Sermon Community Center, with $1,200 being raised toward the summer student exchange program.
“The Cherry Blossom Festival was a beautiful experience to all who braved the rain to join us,” Jeannae Segura-Brown, the festival’s chairwoman, said. “The feeling that we are doing something important for our community and even the larger world is what motivates the members of the Japanese Sister City Committee.”
In the festival’s opening ceremonies, Carolyn Weeks was “crowned” (or rather, a sash was placed around her shoulder) as the first-ever Cherry Blossom Festival queen. Carolyn was one of the founders of the Japanese Sister City Committee.
Weeks’ involvement began in 1977 when she was the executive assistant to Mayor Richard King. King, a believer in the power of friendship, had endorsed the sister city relationship with Higashimurayama and then charged Weeks with finding citizens to form a committee.
The sister city relationship became official in 1978.
“Working with people who understand the mission of the Japanese Sister City Committee has brought absolute joy to my tenure with the sister city,” Weeks said. “Every letter, every resolution, every mission statement, every (meeting) minutes that I took, I found no evidence of conflict. ... Imagine a percentage of your work life with no conflict – that was my experience with the Japanese Sister City Committee. This is the way the world needs to operate.”
In its 34-year history and student exchanges, the Sister City Committee “has spread goodwill, cheer and camaraderie,” Mayor Don Reimal said. Many families who’ve participated in the exchanges 10, 20 and even 30 years ago still remain in contact today, he said.
“They know each other as well as they know their neighbors – probably better,” Reimal said. “This has been an outstanding opportunity to generate goodwill and camaraderie that is rare. I hope we can continue to do this for years and years to come, because it is what’s going to make the world a better place to live in.”
