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Date: 10/26/2023
LONGMEADOW — In a conference room at the Longmeadow Public Schools District Office, officials from Longmeadow and Takikawa, a city in northern Japan, took the historic step of becoming sister communities.
Lori Snyder, a history teacher at Longmeadow High School, welcomed the Japanese delegation to the Oct. 20 ceremony, saying “Konnichiwa,” before going on to make remarks in both Japanese and English.
Since fall 2006, students and adults between Takikawa High School and Longmeadow High School have been traveling between the two municipalities to learn about each other’s cultures. Snyder taught in Japan between 1992 and 1994. During the same time, Yasuhiro Yamauchi taught in Springfield. When Snyder returned, she worked with the World Affairs Council of Springfield and Yamauchi to begin an exchange program.
Snyder said the sister community agreement was a way to honor Yamauchi, who died earlier this year, by expanding the relationship between Longmeadow and Takikawa beyond student exchange to share more as municipalities.
Despite differences in population, language and cultures, Longmeadow and Takikawa have much in common. Select Board Chair Thomas Lachiusa remarked that both municipalities are located near the junction of two rivers and both are home to universities. He spoke of Takikawa’s award winning apples and noted that Longmeadow was once home to orchards, a cider mill and American folk hero John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. Lachiusa held up an apple and used both hands to twist it apart, revealing the seeds inside.
“We hope that some of his seeds made it to Takikawa,” Lachiusa said, adding that the Japanese delegation had “brought seeds of friendship.”
Takikawa City Council Chair Masanobu Yamamoto said the bond of the student exchange had been “breaking down barriers” between the two communities. He shared his wish that there would be “fruitful exchange” between the communities “for generations to come.”
More than 180 students have visited Longmeadow from Takikawa, said the city’s mayor, Koukichi Maeda. He praised the scenic views and high quality of education in Longmeadow and said he wanted to “build a friendship based on trust” and “cultural exchange” between the communities.
Longmeadow Town Manager Lyn Simmons thanked the delegation for its commitment to keeping the communities connected and said the sister communities agreement would broaden the relationship from educational to the wider community and municipal government. “I look forward to learning from each other and sharing our successes.”
Simmons, Yamamoto, Lachiusa and Maeda signed identical copies of the agreement and exchanged gifts. Longmeadow presented the delegation from Takikawa with a framed piece of art depicting the town. In return, the Takikawa officials gave their counterparts a framed piece of calligraphy by the city’s own famed calligrapher Roseki Saito. The art translates to, “To have many flowers blooming at once,” and refers to wishing for free and lively exchange of literature and art.
“We have chosen these words in the hope that the relationship of trust that has already been built thus far between Longmeadow Town and Takakiwa City will continue to deepen in a variety of area, and that the bonds of friendship that have been cultivated will be passed on for generations to come,” Maeda said in a statement that was included with the gift.
Takikawa International Exchange Association President and member of the Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Norikazu Mizaguchi said some students who participated in the exchange have gone on to work in the Takikawa International Exchange Association. Holding glasses of apple cider, Mizaguchi shared a toast with the officials that celebrated the “bond of everlasting friendship.”
Reflecting on the importance of the signing, Simmons said, “It’s more the significance of recognizing the longstanding relationship between the schools. Both [communities] have aging populations, both a grappling with climate change and I think there are lots of things we can learns from shared projects and initiatives.”
Maeda said, “Now, we are being sister cities and our relationship will continue to grow. After I retire, a new generation will continue” the cultural exchange.