ノーフォーク市　記念式典
（6月22日　18：15〜）

In light of this anniversary of 50 years of sister-city relations, I would like to, on behalf of the people of Kitakyushu, thank Mayor Paul Fraim, everyone here in attendance and indeed all the people of Norfolk for their friendship over these many years.

The sister-city system began in America and spread its idea of person-to-person exchange around the world. Nations are sometimes at odds with each other and the realization of projects can take much time, but City-to-City relations like ours ?that is to say person-to-person exchange- allows us to deepen our understanding of each other as well as recognize our differences and carry out more actual exchange.

Exchange between our two cities began with the bond of a kazashi doll and the Mayor of Norfolk sending a message and a replica of the royal mace which is the symbol of the City. For two cities as ours, with such a bond, the last 50 years have certainly been witness to much person-to-person exchange!

For example, 20 years have already passed since the Old Dominion University and Kitakyushu Municipal University began relations and active exchange between faculty and an exchange student program has been established. Additionally, Maury High School and Moji High School have been involved in an ongoing art exchange project. Through such cultural and educational exchange, residents of both cities have had been able to gain a better understanding of each other.

It is thanks to the many people that supported such exchange in the past as well as the people who are currently pouring all of their strength into exchange, acting as bridges between our two cities, that we can be here today. I want to thank everyone for their passion and effort and to reiterate my responsibility as one person to help carry this exchange on into the future.

This marks the 50th anniversary of our relations, but I would also like to think of today as the start of another 50 years. I look forward to exchange through which our cities learn from each other, further deepening our friendship and in turn contributing to each city’s development, to relations between America and Japan and perhaps even to relations on the global scale.

Once again, I would like to thank Mayor Fraim, my fellow guests here today and everyone who has been involved in exchange between our cities.