Minamisoma delegation visits Pendleton

A delegation from Minamisoma, Japan, will visit the City of Pendleton this week as part of the Sister City Program.

The 20-person delegation will visit Pendleton from Monday, Oct. 2, until Thursday, Oct. 5.  During the visit, the delegation will tour regional sites, meet with local officials and participate in activities that highlight the history and culture of Pendleton.

To accommodate the delegation visit, the Pendleton City Council meeting for Tuesday, Oct. 3, has been moved to Tuesday, Oct. 10.

The Sister City Partnership between Pendleton and Minamisoma pre-dates the formation of the Japanese city. Originally, Pendleton’s Sister City was called Haramachi; however, Haramachi and some neighboring towns merged in 2006 to create Minamisoma.

Pendleton has participated in a student exchange with the Japanese city since 1999 with two temporary breaks: one after an earthquake and tsunami hit Minamisoma in 2011 and one for the global COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, the two cities resumed both the student exchange and the delegation visit.

Pendleton City Manager Robb Corbett said the Sister City program is a great opportunity for Pendleton.

“We are excited to host Mayor Monma and the delegation from Minamisoma,” Corbett said. “This relationship allows a high school student exchange to occur annually, sponsored by the Pendleton Cultural Foundation.  It is a unique opportunity for our children to connect with students from Japan which is one more thing that makes Pendleton a great place to raise a family.”

You can read more about the Sister City exchange on the City of Pendleton website. For more information about the student exchange program, contact the Pendleton Cultural Foundation at https://pendletonculturalfoundation.org/

- Oct 2, 2023