To the Journal editor:

On Aug. 12, 1979, a group of eight Marquette residents traveled to Higashiomi, Japan, to officially begin a Sister City relationship that has lasted and grown stronger over the last 45 years.

On July 30, a group of nine Higashiomi, Japan, residents will travel to Marquette to celebrate this milestone with us.

Since 1979, alternate visits have taken place every year (with the exception of the COVID-19 years) and many connections and lasting friendships have formed as a result.

Northern Michigan University has offered a scholarship to a student from Japan every year and is ready to welcome scholar number 43 this fall.

Higashiomi has recently set up a scholarship for an NMU student, and the third recipient will travel to Japan in August for a year of study.

The delegation will be here from July 30-Aug. 6. You may run into them at a lot of places in town. Special events include:

≤ July 30 – Arrival and welcome at the airport. 4:30 p.m.

≤ July 31 – Planting of a Friendship Tree – Lower Harbor. 3:30 p.m.

≤ Month of August – “Japanese Treasures” exhibit at Wintergreen Gallery

≤ Aug. 6 – Sayonara Ceremony and airport departure – 5:30 a.m.

This visit is an important milestone and demonstrates that people separated by distance, language and culture can establish lasting friendship and respect for one another.

Marquette is a community that could make this happen. We are welcoming, open-minded and willing to learn and accept differences in others. I am proud to be a Marquette resident.