In March 2017, the Nelson Izu-shi Friendship Society organized and led a multigenerational delegation from Nelson to visit our sister city of Izu-shi. This was the first official visit by a group from Nelson to Izu-shi in seven years. The delegation included retirees, teenagers, families, individuals, a City of Nelson councillor, people making their first visit to Japan and those returning, and Nelson’s Mayor, Debra Kozak. The delegation members were joined in Tokyo by Nelson’s former Mayor, Gerald Rotering, who had initiated the sister city relationship back in 1987.
In keeping with the goals of the Friendship Society, the delegation members saw the visit as an opportunity to deepen friendship and mutual understanding between our two sister cities and promote world peace and prosperity.
We tried to build the delegation’s activities on common interests, including cycling (as Izu-shi will host three cycling events in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics), local farming and food production, gardening, and hiking as well as learning about Japanese culture and every day activities in Izu-shi.
In addition to the time with our friends in our sister city, the delegation members spent three days exploring Tokyo when we first arrived in Japan. Following our departure from Izu-shi, the group visited Inuyama Castle and the Kiso River area near Nagoya and the historical city of Kyoto. A few members also travelled to Hiroshima before the group returned home to Canada.
The 2017 delegation to Izu-shi also celebrated our 30 years as sister cities. The members made new friends in Izu-shi and renewed connections with people there who had visited Nelson in the past. In doing so, the delegation’s visit renewed the sister city friendship.
As Friendship Society President John Armstrong said: “The special international relationship is one that Nelson can be proud of and which has contributed significantly to our multicultural community over the past 30 years. For example, the Friendship Garden in Cottonwood Falls Park is a lasting benefit to our sister city relationship that all our citizens can enjoy.”
What was our exchange trip like in the Spring of 2017?
In March 2017, we spent our first three days in Tokyo, enjoying sightseeing, shopping, walking, getting around on local trains and subways, immersed in this exciting city. Then we took the train to Izu-shi. We were welcomed at the station in our sister city by people most of us didn't know, but who we soon realized were friends of friends. Many of our hosts had been to Nelson themselves, or had sent their kids here on student exchanges, or had hosted visitors from Nelson. We felt at home right away.
During our stay in Izu-shi, we visited a temple, practised mediation, experienced a tea ceremony, learned how shitake mushrooms and wasabi are farmed, went for a hike on Mount Daruma, and enjoyed demonstrations of archery and taiko drumming, both of which we were able to try ourselves. We also went to the Nelson Village in the Niji no Sato park and participated in the local Saturday market with products from Nelson. Our Izu-shi hosts and new friends tried to meet our requests for activities and always accompanied us. On the weekend, we all enjoyed spending time with our host families. Living with a family in our sister city was really special!
Following our time in Izu-shi, members travelled on their own or with others to Nagoya, Kyoto, and Hiroshima before returning to Tokyo and coming home to Canada. Spring comes earlier to Japan than to Nelson and we enjoyed several early spring days visiting interesting castles, temples, shrines, and gardens along with beautiful walks, more shopping, travelling by train through the Japanese countryside, delicious food, the people, and even a few of the first cherry blossoms!
In keeping with the goals of the Friendship Society, the delegation members saw the visit as an opportunity to deepen friendship and mutual understanding between our two sister cities and promote world peace and prosperity.
We tried to build the delegation’s activities on common interests, including cycling (as Izu-shi will host three cycling events in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics), local farming and food production, gardening, and hiking as well as learning about Japanese culture and every day activities in Izu-shi.
In addition to the time with our friends in our sister city, the delegation members spent three days exploring Tokyo when we first arrived in Japan. Following our departure from Izu-shi, the group visited Inuyama Castle and the Kiso River area near Nagoya and the historical city of Kyoto. A few members also travelled to Hiroshima before the group returned home to Canada.
The 2017 delegation to Izu-shi also celebrated our 30 years as sister cities. The members made new friends in Izu-shi and renewed connections with people there who had visited Nelson in the past. In doing so, the delegation’s visit renewed the sister city friendship.
As Friendship Society President John Armstrong said: “The special international relationship is one that Nelson can be proud of and which has contributed significantly to our multicultural community over the past 30 years. For example, the Friendship Garden in Cottonwood Falls Park is a lasting benefit to our sister city relationship that all our citizens can enjoy.”
What was our exchange trip like in the Spring of 2017?
In March 2017, we spent our first three days in Tokyo, enjoying sightseeing, shopping, walking, getting around on local trains and subways, immersed in this exciting city. Then we took the train to Izu-shi. We were welcomed at the station in our sister city by people most of us didn't know, but who we soon realized were friends of friends. Many of our hosts had been to Nelson themselves, or had sent their kids here on student exchanges, or had hosted visitors from Nelson. We felt at home right away.
During our stay in Izu-shi, we visited a temple, practised mediation, experienced a tea ceremony, learned how shitake mushrooms and wasabi are farmed, went for a hike on Mount Daruma, and enjoyed demonstrations of archery and taiko drumming, both of which we were able to try ourselves. We also went to the Nelson Village in the Niji no Sato park and participated in the local Saturday market with products from Nelson. Our Izu-shi hosts and new friends tried to meet our requests for activities and always accompanied us. On the weekend, we all enjoyed spending time with our host families. Living with a family in our sister city was really special!
Following our time in Izu-shi, members travelled on their own or with others to Nagoya, Kyoto, and Hiroshima before returning to Tokyo and coming home to Canada. Spring comes earlier to Japan than to Nelson and we enjoyed several early spring days visiting interesting castles, temples, shrines, and gardens along with beautiful walks, more shopping, travelling by train through the Japanese countryside, delicious food, the people, and even a few of the first cherry blossoms!
News coverage on the delegation to Izu-shi in the Nelson Star
"To Izu-shi and Back" :
A selection of photos of the delegation from Nelson and area to Izu-shi was published in the Nelson Star May 10 2017 and in the online edition here. Thank you Tyler Harper and the Nelson Star!
"A Story of Friendship":
Mayor Deb Kozak, a member of the delegation to Izu-shi in March 2017, wrote about her experiences and impressions while in Japan and of the development of new friendships in Izu-shi, in an article April 12 2017 in the Nelson Star and in the online edition here. Thank you Mayor Kozak and the Nelson Star.