As the initial Sister City affiliation in Spokane, the agreement between Spokane and Nishinomiya, Japan, was signed in September of 1961 in the Lilac City, 

And for the past 60-plus years, more than 20,000 exchanges have occurred between the citizens of each of our communities, with many long-lasting personal friendships counted among them.  And we can all be thankful to the pair of civic leaders: Mayor Neal R. Fosseen, businessman-artist Edward M. Tsutakawa, and obviously their counterparts in Nishinomiya; who had the foresight to bring the plan to fruition.

Our citizens have had mutual meetings and exchanges of medical groups, Boy and Girl Scout Troops, Chambers of Commerce, businesses, civic and fraternal organizations, unions, teachers, musicians, stage productions, and of special importance, students.

And, of course, mayors and council members of Nishinomiya and Spokane have greeted each other in each other’s city as have members of the two Sister City Societies traveled the many miles to participate in festivals and special gatherings.

No statistical tables could actually say what benefits have accrued from all these gatherings…because a sizable portion of that is on a totally personal level…but the residents of Spokane know what additional charm has been brought to Manito Park with the construction of the Nishinomiya-Tsutakawa Japanese Garden.

The primary goal of the two cities’ affiliation is to foster closer relations in the educational, cultural and economic realms. By any measure, that has been accomplished over 60 years of our friendship.  And there is every reason to believe it will continue for another half century…and more.