Tacoma-Kitakyushu 60th Anniversary Celebration
2019/8/3
On July 24, the cities of Tacoma and Kitakyushu (located in Fukuoka, Japan) celebrated 60 years of friendship as sister cities with a festive evening gathering of about 70 people, at the Point Defiance Park Pagoda in Tacoma, Washington. This reception concluded a variety of events that have taken place throughout the year related to this milestone anniversary. Official 60th anniversary events kicked off in February with a visit from Kitakyushu officials and a special performance by Tacoma jazz artist Kareem Kandi and his band. This was followed by a visit to Kitakyushu at the end of March by a 15-person delegation from Tacoma, led by Mayor Victoria Woodards, and included Tacoma city officials, Kareem Kandi, members of the Tacoma Kitakyushu Sister City Committee and representatives from Tacoma Community College (TCC), including President Ivan Harrell. Later in April, the Tacoma Kitakyushu Sister City Committee headlined the annual Tacoma Sister Cities International Film Festival with the Japanese film Her Love Boils Bathwater.
The 60th anniversary celebration reached its finale at the anniversary reception this July, with the visit by a 7-member delegation from Kitakyushu to Tacoma, led by Mayor Kenji Kitahashi, which included Kitakyushu City Assembly Chairperson Koichi Murakami and other representatives from the city.
Mayor Woodards made an official proclamation recognizing the 60th anniversary and presented it to Mayor Kitahashi. Gifts from each sister city were exchanged, and Kandi performed an original song called “The Gift,” which he composed for Mayor Kitahashi. Kandi was later joined by other local artists and two guest musicians from Kitakyushu: professional jazz artist Shiori Esaki and a current Kitakyushu University exchange student studying at TCC. Both mayors renewed their commitment to further strengthen and expand the existing the friendship between the two cities by potentially exploring more economic partnerships in the future.
In appreciation and recognition of the accomplishments of this amazing sister city relationship, Consul General Yoichiro Yamada presented the Consul General’s Commendation to both Walter Allen, who serves as the current chair and accepted the award on the behalf of the Tacoma Kitakyushu Sister City Committee, and to Debbie Bingham, Project Manager with the City of Tacoma, who has been instrumental in Tacoma’s sister city programs for over a decade. The anniversary gathering had many memorable moments to mark this special occasion and both cities reaffirmed their dedication to continue to nurture this important international relationship for many more years to come!
The 60th anniversary celebration reached its finale at the anniversary reception this July, with the visit by a 7-member delegation from Kitakyushu to Tacoma, led by Mayor Kenji Kitahashi, which included Kitakyushu City Assembly Chairperson Koichi Murakami and other representatives from the city.
Mayor Woodards made an official proclamation recognizing the 60th anniversary and presented it to Mayor Kitahashi. Gifts from each sister city were exchanged, and Kandi performed an original song called “The Gift,” which he composed for Mayor Kitahashi. Kandi was later joined by other local artists and two guest musicians from Kitakyushu: professional jazz artist Shiori Esaki and a current Kitakyushu University exchange student studying at TCC. Both mayors renewed their commitment to further strengthen and expand the existing the friendship between the two cities by potentially exploring more economic partnerships in the future.
In appreciation and recognition of the accomplishments of this amazing sister city relationship, Consul General Yoichiro Yamada presented the Consul General’s Commendation to both Walter Allen, who serves as the current chair and accepted the award on the behalf of the Tacoma Kitakyushu Sister City Committee, and to Debbie Bingham, Project Manager with the City of Tacoma, who has been instrumental in Tacoma’s sister city programs for over a decade. The anniversary gathering had many memorable moments to mark this special occasion and both cities reaffirmed their dedication to continue to nurture this important international relationship for many more years to come!
 The anniversary dinner was held at the Pagoda at Point Defiance Park. Inspired by Japanese designs, it is the focal point of the Japanese Gardens. |
 Torii and Shrine in the Japanese Gardens at Point Defiance Park were given as a gift from Tacoma’s Japanese sister city, Kokura (now Kitakyushu). |
 Mayor Kenji Kitahashi and Mayor Victoria Woodards exchange gifts on behalf of Kitakyushu and Tacoma. |
 Consul General Yoichiro Yamada and Sylvia Sass, “The First Lady of Sister Cities International.” |
 Consul General’s Commendation. (Left to Right) Consul General Yamada, Mayor Kitahashi, Walter Allen (Chair of Tacoma Kitakyushu Sister City Committee), Debbie Bingham, Mayor Woodards. |
 The Kareem Kandi Band with guest artists from Kitakyushu provided wonderful jazz music to delight the audience. |