|
In 1990, along with the flourishing of international exchange,
Kawachinagano City, in order to define its assumed duty and task
in the international community, decided on the "Kawachinagano
City Internationalization Policy Plan." A full-fledged International
Promotion Project was begun. Amongst this activity, a proposal
to form sister cities came from Carmel, Indiana, who's Junior
High and High School had a long sister school relationship with
Seikyo Gakuen, located in Kawachinagano City.
Also, in 1992, in order to spread international exchange
among its citizens, the Kawachinagano International Friendship
Association (KIFA) was established. With it the start of international
exchange activities began in Kawachinagano. In the same year,
due to its similarities in such areas as blessed environment,
abundant nature, and educational interests, Kawachinagano
confirmed its desire to form a sister city partnership with
Carmel, Indiana.
|
|
In 1993 Kawachinagano City sent its Friendship City
Research Group to Carmel, Indiana. Based on the results
of their findings, it was decided that Carmel would be Kawachinagano's
sister city . In the following year, April 8, 1994, the
signing of the sister city agreement was held at Lovely
Hall. The next day, Carmel Sister Cities Inc. and KIFA drew
up an agreement regarding future sister city activities.
|
| International
Exchange Activities |
After the sister city agreement was made, both Carmel
and Kawachinagano have had repeated exchanges and have sent
delegate and visiting groups to each other's city. On July
20-21, 1996 the "Sister City Fair" was held in
front of Kawachinagano City Hall in order to inform its
citizens more about their sister city, Carmel, Indiana,
U.S.A. With over 5,000 people participating in the Sister
City Fair, and through various events and activities, the
citizens of Kawachinagano gained a deeper understanding
of Carmel, Indiana Since then, Kawachinagano and KIFA have
continued various kinds of activities with Carmel to include:
exchange projects between Police and Fire Department personnel;
student/children picture exchange; piano concert; and participation
in an Art Festival.
|
| July 1988 |
Seikyo Gakuen Junior High
School and Carmel Junior High School become sister schools. |
| Feb. 1990 |
Establishment of the Kawachinagano
City Internationalization Plan |
| Feb. 1991 |
Carmel City announces interest
in becoming a sister city with Kawachinagano |
| March 1991 |
Seikyo Gakuen High School
and Carmel High School become sister schools |
| March 1991 |
Kawachinagano City International
Friendship Fund Established |
| March 1991 |
Kawachinagano City
decides its sister city should be in an English-speaking country |
| Feb. 1992 |
Kawachinagano International
Friendship Association Established |
| July 1992 |
Kawachinagano City confirms
Carmel City's interest in becoming sister cities |
| May 1993 |
A research group comprised
of Kawachinagano citizens and city officials visits Carmel. Declaration
of commitment to a sister city relationship is signed |
| Jan. 1994 |
A decision is made to sign
a sister city agreement in Kawachinagano on April 8th,
1994 |
| April 1994 |
A final resolution to enter
a sister city agreement is made by the Carmel City Council |
| April 8, 1994 |
Carmel City and Kawachinagano
City sign the sister city agreement. Carmel City designates April
8th as "Kawachinagano Day" |
| April 9, 1994 |
Carmel Sister Cities Inc.
and Kawachinagano International Friendship Association issue proposals
regarding future sister city exchange |
| July 21, 1994 |
Carmel junior and senior
high school students visiting Seikyo Gakuen participate in a bus
tour to Osaka Aquarium with Kawachinagano citizens |
| Dec 1994 |
Paintings by elementary
school (140) and kindergarten (30) students from Kawachinagano are
sent to Carmel for exhibition. |
| Jan. 1995 |
90 paintings by Carmel
elementary students are exhibited in Kawachinagano |
| July 12-17, 1995 |
The first official delegation
from Kawachinagano visits Carmel for the first time, including 8
junior high students, 4 high school students, and 6 adults. |
| July 20-21 1996 |
A Sister City Fair is held
in Kawachinagano |
| March 23-31 1998 |
A second citizens/goodwill
group from Kawachinagano visits Carmel |
| July 20, 1998 |
A second bus tour to Osaka
Aquarium is held, with Kawachinagano citizens and Carmel junior
and senior high school students visiting Seikyo Gakuen |
| Oct. 25-30, 1998 |
A group of eight
Kawachinagano International Friendship Association members participate
in Carmel's International Art Festival, giving performances of the
Koto (Japanese harp), Shakuhachi (Japanese flute) and Japanese tea
ceremony (the third citizens/goodwill group visit Carmel) |
| Feb. 21, 1999 |
On invitation of Carmel
Sister Cities Inc., two Japanese American pianists from the American
Pianist Association give their Japanese debut concert |
| June 6, 1999 |
838 pictures by Kawachinagano kindergarten, elementary,
junior high, and high school students are sent to Carmel for exhibition
|
| Sept. 24-30, 1999 |
The fourth citizens/goodwill
group from Kawachinagano visits Carmel, to celebrate five years
of sister city relations and to participate in the 2nd
annual Carmel International Art Festival. Three Japanese dance artists
and one traditional paper plane expert are included amongst the
11 group members |
|