The Official Site of the 50th Anniversary of Sister City Relationship between Matsumoto and SLC

Was our affiliation tied by only similarities of geography and the transportation crossroad of both cities?

The History of Our Sister City Relationship
- It's a relationship developed by our forefather's foresight

	It is because of "people to people" Sister cities separate themselves from foreign affairs, and look beyond the differences in racial, religious, or political ideologies they may have. They try to understand one another and strengthen their friendship and work together and contribute towards world peace.
	It can be said that the Sister cities was founded by Mayor Tokuya Furuhata and Tamotsu Murayama. Murayama was born in Seattle and later returned to Minani Azumi-gun Azusa-mura (the current Azumino City) where he grew up, and went to America after he finished middle school at Matsumoto Middle School (the current Fukashi High School). At the time the Sister City program was organized, he was the Public Relations manager for Japan Times.
	There are many sister cities founded because of similar geography, scenery, and industries. When the United States forced Japanese Americans in relocation centers during World War II, Salt Lake City expressed their disapproval of the matter. Mayor Tokuya Furuhata was deeply impressed by the news given by Mr. Murayama that Salt Lake City extended humanitarian aid towards the Japanese after the war.
	The words of Mr. Murayama. "I cannot forget the sense of justice and courage the people of Salt Lake City have as they aided the Japanese-Americans during the war as they followed their belief to, "Love thine enemies."
The commemorative ceremony	The sister city organization ceremony took place on November 29, 1958 in Matsumoto. Stewart J. Bohaseck, Japan stationed US Ambassador proxy of McArthur, sent to Matsumoto a message from Salt Lake City Mayor Racken Lee and a key to the city. There were still many people who supported the organization of the sister city.
Henry Kasai	Mr. Henry Kasai helped to organize the sister city program as the President of the Salt Lake branch of the Japanese American Citizen League. After the war they cooperated in the US-Japan Animal Exchange and the development of the Japanese Garden in the International Park.
Mayor Lee	Bracken Lee, mayor of Salt Lake City at that time.
Dr. Allpin	University of Utah President Dr. A. Ray Allpin visited Matsumoto numerous times in behalf of the mayor and as the sister city committee chair to develop the sister city program. He put into practice the sister school program between Shinshu University and University of Utah.
Kuniko Terasawa	Kuniko Terasawa supported the organization of the sister city program through the printing press as President of the Utah Nippo.

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People-To-People Exchanges
- Let's visit, see, know, and meet each other

University of Utah	Since 1961 many students requested to study abroad mainly at the University of Utah, thus a facilitated sponsorship was planned to allow as many students to attend as possible.
Nami Takei and Yoko Kitano(right)	In 1976, Yoko Kitano and Nami Takei studied at the University of Utah and contributed in the planning, training, and coordinating of the International School.
Yumi Kajikura Kajikura & Terasawa	In 1984, Yumi Kajikura went on the foreign exchange program. She now resides in Matsumoto City. She currently serves as an officer of the sister city committee.
Izumi Ozawa and students of University of Utah	In 1988, Izumi Ozawa went on a Foreign Exchange program to Salt Lake City. She currently lives in Matsumoto City. She contributes to the sister city program as a lecturer for the International School and as an officer of the sister city committee.
Masanobu Shinohara at University	In 1971, Matsumi Fukazawa, the Mayor of Matsumoto City at the time, began the short term foreign exchange program for teachers. The following year the Matsumoto Teacher's Association sent Fukazawa, Shinohara, and Kobayashi, three elementary and junior high school teachers, on the short term foreign exchange program to Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. As of 1981 the deployment of teachers changed to the deployment of the group leader of the International School. Because of this program many people who went to Salt Lake City now serve as officers of the sister city program or the members of the Utah Nippo.
Shinichi Suzuki and his children from his school	In 1966, Shinichi Suzuki performed the violin with children from the school for the gift.
Group photograph	In 1962 Mayor Tokuya Furuhata, the Prefectural Governor, Mayors of neighboring cities, officers of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, teachers, artists, etc. visited Salt Lake City.
	In 1963, Dr. Allpin of the University of Utah, the Senator, the Governor, teachers, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visited Matsumoto City.

The Guide of SLC and MATSUMOTO<<　Page　>>Establishment of Our Sister City Committee

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