Nishiwaki – Renton 50th Sister City Anniversary
2019/10/31
On the morning of October 17, the cities of Renton and Nishiwaki (located in Hyogo, Japan) celebrated 50 years of friendship as sister cities at Renton City Hall. Twenty delegates from Nishiwaki were present that day, as well as their seven host families and many community members.
The program was full of smiles and sincere reflections on the goodwill between the two cities. The mayors of Renton and Nishiwaki, Mr. Satoshi Asai (the leader of the delegation from Nishiwaki), Mr.Chris Johnson (Renton-Nishiwaki Sister City Committee, President) and signed a 50th Anniversary Joint Commemorative Statement. Mayor Denis Law of Renton announced an official proclamation by the city council that the delegates present are honorary residents of Renton City, and each member of the delegation received a personalized certificate of that proclamation. Mayor Shozo Katayama of Nishiwaki provided a short presentation on Nishiwaki. In addition, gifts were exchanged between the two cities and mayors. Stories were also shared, spanning from the first visits to Nishiwaki in 1969, to visits by Nishiwaki to Renton five years ago. Three days prior, 14 Renton middle school students returned from their annual exchange to Nishiwaki, following a visit by 14 students from Nishiwaki who visited Renton in August.
To celebrate the 50 years of friendship, Consul General Yoichiro Yamada presented the Consul General’s Commendation to the three persons who were a part of the formation of the sister city relationship and were participants in the first delegation to Nishiwaki in 1969: Mr. Roger R. Richert, and husband and wife Mr. Wyman Dobson and Ms. Vicki Dobson. Over the past 50 years, these three individuals have continued to support the relationship between the two cities.
The program was full of smiles and sincere reflections on the goodwill between the two cities. The mayors of Renton and Nishiwaki, Mr. Satoshi Asai (the leader of the delegation from Nishiwaki), Mr.Chris Johnson (Renton-Nishiwaki Sister City Committee, President) and signed a 50th Anniversary Joint Commemorative Statement. Mayor Denis Law of Renton announced an official proclamation by the city council that the delegates present are honorary residents of Renton City, and each member of the delegation received a personalized certificate of that proclamation. Mayor Shozo Katayama of Nishiwaki provided a short presentation on Nishiwaki. In addition, gifts were exchanged between the two cities and mayors. Stories were also shared, spanning from the first visits to Nishiwaki in 1969, to visits by Nishiwaki to Renton five years ago. Three days prior, 14 Renton middle school students returned from their annual exchange to Nishiwaki, following a visit by 14 students from Nishiwaki who visited Renton in August.
To celebrate the 50 years of friendship, Consul General Yoichiro Yamada presented the Consul General’s Commendation to the three persons who were a part of the formation of the sister city relationship and were participants in the first delegation to Nishiwaki in 1969: Mr. Roger R. Richert, and husband and wife Mr. Wyman Dobson and Ms. Vicki Dobson. Over the past 50 years, these three individuals have continued to support the relationship between the two cities.
 Delegation and elected officials.
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 Presenting the signed 50th Anniversary Joint Commemorative Statement.
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 Hand-woven gift presented by Mayor Katayama to Mayor Law.
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 (Left to Right) Mayor Denis Law, Randy Corman (Renton City Council), Chris Johnson (Renton-Nishiwaki Sister City Committee, president), and Manami Imaoka (Translator) prepare gifts to Nishiwaki delegates.
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 Consul General Yoichiro Yamada giving remarks at the event.
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 Consul General’s Commendation. (Left to Right) Mayor Katayama, Mayor Law, Consul General Yamada, Mr. Roger R. Richert, Mr. Wyman Dobson and his wife Ms. Vicki Dobson.
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