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Welcome
to the Seattle-Kobe Sister City Association's Website.
The Seattle-Kobe
Sister City Association (SKSCA) is a volunteer-based 501(c)3 non-profit association
that helps promote and facilitate friendly relations between Seattle and our sister
city of Kobe, Japan. Founded in 1957, the Seattle-Kobe relationship was the first
such partnership for both cities. The exchanges between our two cities are many
and varied, ranging from cultural and educational to business and governmental.
In addition to the official sister city relationship, there is also an official
sister port relationship, as well as strong economic ties between many companies
of our two regions.
Organizations such as the YMCA, YWCA, Rotary clubs,
SEAFAIR and others have direct exchanges with counterparts in Kobe. In recent
years sports has played a more major role in our sister city relationship, with
exchanges involving the Seattle Sounders and the Seattle Mariners. Former team
member of the Kobe Orix Blue Wave, Ichiro Suzuki now plays for the Seattle Mariners.
Gifts from the people of Kobe can be seen around Seattle, most noticeably
at the Kobe Terrace Park in Seattle's International District, which has Japanese
pine and cherry trees and a stone lantern, and the Kobe Bell at the Seattle Center.
Also located in Seattle is the Kobe Trade Information Office, the US branch office
for the City of Kobe. This office was established in 1961 to promote friendship,
international exchange and business between the United States and Kobe, Japan.
SKSCA volunteers work hard every year to organize and support many Japan-related
programs, such as the Cherry Blossom Festival. In addition to hosting visitors
from Kobe, SKSCA holds several annual events, such as the Kobe Day at the Mariners
baseball outing, and the Sister City Jazz Concert at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley. SKSCA
will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Seattle-Kobe sister city relationship
in 2007.
SKSCA will continue to foster programs and exchanges that increase
the mutual understanding and friendship between the people of our two cities.
SKSCA is always looking for people who have an interest or connection with the
Kobe area.
If you are interested in learning more about SKSCA or if you'd like to propose a new activity or exchange program idea, please email us at info@sksca.org. We'd love to hear from you! |
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