The 30th Anniversary event of the sister city relationship between Edmonds and Hekinan
2018/11/26
From October 29 to November 3, 2018, the city of Edmonds hosted a twenty-member delegation from Hekinan City in Aichi Prefecture, Japan to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of their sister city relationship. The Japanese delegation was led Mayor Masanobu Negita and included Hekinan City Council Chairperson Hiroshi Kutsuna, Hekinan Sister City Association President Isao Kimbara, as well as long-time volunteers of the association, former exchange students, and community members.
During their stay, the guests from Hekinan enjoyed local sights, visited the Hilbulb Cultural Center at the Tulalip Reservation and participated in Halloween festivities by handing out candy to excited children in front of Edmonds City Hall.
On the evening of November 1, a special 30th Anniversary reception was held at the Cascadia Art Museum. The venue proved especially befitting due to the timing of its current exhibit “Invocation of Beauty: The Life and Photography of Soichi Sunami.” This exhibit tells the story of a young Japanese man who came to Seattle at the beginning of the 20th century to develop his camera skills and later became world famous, particularly of his photography of dancers.
The reception began with quick salutations by all of the Hekinan delegation members, followed by welcome remarks and an official proclamation by Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling, which commended ongoing visual art exchanges and successful youth and adult exchange programs. A short greeting and gift of a beautiful painting of a temple was then given by Mayor Masanobu Negita of Hekinan.
In recognition and appreciation of the Edmonds Sister City Commission’s dedication and promotion of international friendship exchange, Senior Consul Takeshi Murazawa presented the Consul General’s Award on behalf of Consul General Yoichiro Yamada to the Edmonds Sister City Commission that was accepted by Chair Karyn Heinekin, who also served as the evening’s emcee.
Two additional gift presentations were made by the Hekinan delegation. First, ornately carved metal lanterns showing the two cities’ municipal and sister city group logos were given by Isao Kimbara, Hekinan Sister City Association President. Second, Mike Nelson, Edmonds City Council President and Kiroshi Kutsuna, Hekinan City Council Chair, faced off in a competition of janken (rock-paper-scissors). Council President Nelson won and received a beautiful Japanese tea set.
The event concluded with a toast and although a good part of the event was held in the dark due to a surprise power outage, lit only by the dim glow of cell phones, the genuine friendships which had been formed between the Hekinan delegation members and their counterparts from the city of Edmonds were more than enough to shine a bright light on the positive power and impact that can be generated by grassroots exchange.
During their stay, the guests from Hekinan enjoyed local sights, visited the Hilbulb Cultural Center at the Tulalip Reservation and participated in Halloween festivities by handing out candy to excited children in front of Edmonds City Hall.
On the evening of November 1, a special 30th Anniversary reception was held at the Cascadia Art Museum. The venue proved especially befitting due to the timing of its current exhibit “Invocation of Beauty: The Life and Photography of Soichi Sunami.” This exhibit tells the story of a young Japanese man who came to Seattle at the beginning of the 20th century to develop his camera skills and later became world famous, particularly of his photography of dancers.
The reception began with quick salutations by all of the Hekinan delegation members, followed by welcome remarks and an official proclamation by Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling, which commended ongoing visual art exchanges and successful youth and adult exchange programs. A short greeting and gift of a beautiful painting of a temple was then given by Mayor Masanobu Negita of Hekinan.
In recognition and appreciation of the Edmonds Sister City Commission’s dedication and promotion of international friendship exchange, Senior Consul Takeshi Murazawa presented the Consul General’s Award on behalf of Consul General Yoichiro Yamada to the Edmonds Sister City Commission that was accepted by Chair Karyn Heinekin, who also served as the evening’s emcee.
Two additional gift presentations were made by the Hekinan delegation. First, ornately carved metal lanterns showing the two cities’ municipal and sister city group logos were given by Isao Kimbara, Hekinan Sister City Association President. Second, Mike Nelson, Edmonds City Council President and Kiroshi Kutsuna, Hekinan City Council Chair, faced off in a competition of janken (rock-paper-scissors). Council President Nelson won and received a beautiful Japanese tea set.
The event concluded with a toast and although a good part of the event was held in the dark due to a surprise power outage, lit only by the dim glow of cell phones, the genuine friendships which had been formed between the Hekinan delegation members and their counterparts from the city of Edmonds were more than enough to shine a bright light on the positive power and impact that can be generated by grassroots exchange.
 The Consul General’s award presented to Edmonds Sister City Commission, while Sister City Commissioner and translator Iyoko Okano uses her phone to light the podium during the sudden power outage. |
 Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling delivering his welcome remarks and official proclamation. |
 The Consul General’s award presented to Edmonds Sister City Commission, while Sister City Commissioner and translator Iyoko Okano uses her phone to light the podium during the sudden power outage. |
 Mayor Masanobu Negita of Hekinan City |
 Lanterns gifted by the Hekinan Sister City Association (HSCA) showing their organizations logo (left) and the logo of the City of Hekinan (right). |
 Another view of the lanterns gifted by HSCA, showing the Edmonds Sister City Commission logo (left) and the City of Edmonds logo (right). |