ADULT EXCHANGE
After five years of successful middle school student exchanges between the two countries, the Roseburg City Council decided in 1992 to pursue a sister city relationship with Shobu, Japan. In 1993, Shobu Mayor Junji Endo arrived in Roseburg to sign the formal sister city proclamation with Roseburg’s Mayor Jeri Kimmel. The Roseburg Sister Cities first adult group visited Shobu in 1994. In the early years, the delegations included many artists from the Umpqua Valley Arts Association and an exchange of artworks between the two cities began. The adult exchange has been occurring ever since.
Every other year, Roseburg Sister Cities sends a delegation of 10 – 20 members to Japan for about a ten day stay. On opposite years, Japan sends a similar sized delegation to Roseburg. Delegates are provided home stays during their visits as a way to immerse in the culture of each country. Costs for the travel to Japan or hosting are covered by the participants.
Roseburg Delegation to Kuki-City, Japan is scheduled for October 2-11, 2024 (see info below under upcoming events)
When delegations travel plans for 2024 are finalized, the application to become a delegate to Japan will become available. You will be able to CLICK HERE for the application form. Roseburg-Kuki Sister Cities Relationship 2024.
The dates have been set for the adult delegation from Roseburg to visit Kuki City, Japan on October 2-11, 2024.
The trip will include visits to Shirakawago, Gokayama area and Matsumoto Castle. Watch for additional information on this visit on our Facebook page for more information and request an application if interested in participating.
Visit our Facebook page at: roseburgsistercities.org
or message: rsbgsistercities@gmail.com or contact Janet Johnston, President of Roseburg Sister Cities Organization at (541) 430-2885
or by email: roseburgsistercities2@gmail.com
Roseburg Sister Cities, Inc., promotes friendship and understanding between the US and Japan through an exchange program which occurs every year. Japan delegations come in odd numbered years; Roseburg delegates visit Japan in even numbered years. New members are always encouraged and welcome.
Kuki City Delegation to Roseburg June 2-8, 2023
The relationship between Roseburg and Kuki City (Formerly Shobu Town), Saitama prefecture has a history of about 30 years. Due to the pandemic, exchange visits between the two cities had ceased for several years. But this year, from June 2 to 8, an adult delegation from Kuki City visited Roseburg and a student delegation from Roseburg is scheduled to visit Kuki City from July 9. Consul General Yoshioka paid a courtesy visit to the Mayor of Roseburg on June 14 to discuss the exchanges and ways to deepen the friendship between the two cities.
PHOTO GALLERY OF 2023 KUKI CITY delegation to Roseburg
Photo Gallery of 2019 Delegation to Japan
The 2019 Delegation to Japan arrived in Tokyo Narita Airport on Friday, October 18. The weekend was spent with host families and the Welcome Dinner. The group toured Kuki City Hall, enjoyed a taiko drum performance at the Choryuji Kindergarten, and visited the Washinomiya Shrine. The group then left on a 3-day bus trip to the Mt. Fuji area. First to Shizuoka to board a ferry across Suruga Bay where Fuji first started to appear from the clouds, then on to the Mishima Skywalk with great views of Mt. Fuji, and to Fujiyoshida, the Fifth Station on Mt. Fuji and the beautiful Sengen Shrine.
Photo Gallery of 2018 Japanese Delegation Visit
Photo Galleries of Past Visits
2017 DELEGATION TO JAPAN
A delegation of 19 from Roseburg Sister Cities left for Japan on October 19 and arriving at Tokyo Narita Airport on October 20. The delegation included Roseburg Mayor, Larry Rich, and Roseburg Fire Chief, Gregg Timm, in their first trip to Japan. Everyone was welcomed at the airport by members of the Kuki-Roseburg Association and bused north to Kuki City and the waiting host families. The first few days were dampened by a typhoon but it did not dampen the enthusiasm of host families and the delegates. They were able to enjoy popular sites with fewer crowds! Kuki City Mayor Kenji Tanaka, who had previously visited Roseburg, greeted the group at a Welcome Dinner and thanked Roseburg Mayor Rich that he had kept his promise of visiting Kuki. The group enjoyed a bus trip to the hot springs city of Kusatsu and the Nagano area. They visited the Togakushi Shrine and the Takahashi Museum of Doll Art. Delegates managed to find their way out of the Ninja Trick House and Museum and made their way back to Kuki. The Choriyuji Kindergarten and Temple are always a high point of the visit. A Farewell Dinner with many tearful goodbyes was held before the group left for Tokyo Airport on October 28.
2016 DELEGATION FROM JAPAN
The Japanese delegation of 15 was met in Portland on October 6 and then in Roseburg by their host families at Legion Field. The Welcome Dinner at the Roseburg Country Club was that evening. The following day was a tour of the Roseburg Police and Fire Station, City Hall, Umpqua Community College, and the Umpqua Valley Arts Center where a pumpkin carving event was held. The next three days were spent with the host families visiting a variety of areas. The Farewell Dinner was a traditional Thanksgiving potluck dinner at the Hucrest Community Church before the group left for a 3 day bus trip in the Portland area. The delegates enjoyed the Nike Campus, the Underground Tour, Voodoo Donuts, the Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Powell’s Books, OMSI, a dinner cruise on the Willamette, the Pendleton Woolen Mill, Fort Vancouver, and the Japanese Consulate. They were set to leave on October 14, but a mechanical problem cancelling their flight, left them to relax another day.
2015 DELEGATION TO JAPAN
A group of 19 delegates from the Roseburg area left for Japan on October 8. They were met in the Tokyo Airport and traveled by bus to meet their host families in Shobu. The next day was spent with their host families before a Welcome Party at the Shobu Toresen in the evening. The next day was also spent with host families before leaving on a 3 day bus trip to Northern Japan. The group visited Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa, the Japanese Alps where they took various methods of transport from Tateyama to Kurobe Dam (bus, trolley, ropeway, and cable car), stayed at a hotel with hot springs, visited Matsumoto Castle, and then to Aoki Village where they were treated to a taiko drum and choral performance, along with a tea ceremony by the junior high students, before returning back to Shobu. The following day was at Choryuji Temple and Kindergarten, and a calligraphy lesson. The next day was a trip to Kuki City Hall, a calligraphy exhibition, a doll museum in Iwatsuki, a kendo demonstration, and back to City Hall to meet with Mayor Tanaka. The Farewell Party was held at the Shobu Toresen before the group left for the Tokyo Narita Airport on October 17.