WHAT WE DO
Roseburg Sister Cities strives to enhance relations between citizens of Roseburg, Oregon and our sister city of Kuki, Japan. To Americans, Japan brings to mind many cultural visions; from sushi to sumo wrestling, kimonos to Japanese gardens. Equally fascinating to the Japanese is how Americans eat, dress and live. By sharing our cultures, we can celebrate our similarities and enjoy our differences.
Our HISTORY
Roseburg Sister Cities is an exchange program that has its roots in a middle school exchange that began in 1987 between Roseburg, Oregon and Shobu, Japan. Shobu is about a two hour drive north of Tokyo. A formal sister cities proclamation was signed in 1993 by the Mayors of Shobu and Roseburg. The first adult delegation from Roseburg visited Japan in 1994. This cultural connection between both the middle school students and adults of these cities has been occurring every year since.
In 2010 Shobu Town merged with Kuki City but the sister city relationship remained strong. In 2015 a formal agreement was signed by Roseburg Mayor Larry Rich and Kuki City's Mayor Kenji Tanaka affirming the new relationship between the two cities.
Kuki has a combined area and a total population that is about the size of Eugene, Oregon. The city has a wide economic base including many agricultural products such as: rice, pears, strawberries, lavender, and flowers, just to name a few.
Both the middle school and adult exchange programs have involved annual visits between the two cities by students and area citizens. These visits, while not lengthy, have resulted in many lasting memories and friendships, and are a highlight of both programs. Each visit is a progression of friendship, continually exchanging ideas, thoughts, and well wishes towards a more connective future.
Outline of Roseburg’s association with Shobu/Kuki, Japan:
1985 - Harold Winfield’s Joseph Lane Junior High students begin a pen-pal relationship with Isao Hattori’s Shobu Junior High students.
1987 - First group of Roseburg Jr. High Students goes to Shobu.
1989 - First group of Shobu Jr. High Students comes to Roseburg.
1992 - Roseburg City Council signs document for Sister City relationship with Shobu, Nov. 23, 1992.
1992 - Japanese government sends teacher, Toshio Koshi, from Toyama Prefecture (Oregon state's Sister City) to teach Japanese at Roseburg High - He stayed for 2 1/2 years.
1993 - Shobu Mayor Endo comes to Roseburg for Official document signing with Roseburg’s Mayor, Jeri Kimmel.
1994 - Roseburg Sister Cities program sends first group of adults to visit Shobu, June 1994.
1994 - Sister Cities Friendship Garden is started behind the Douglas County Library.
1994 – Roseburg’s Umpqua Valley Art Center & Sister Cities begin on-going exchange of art work from both cities.
1994 - Roseburg Sister Cities publishes first quarterly newsletter, “The Bridge.”
1996 - Sister Cities & Umpqua Valley Arts Association sponsor “Indigo Northwest”– renowned Japanese tie-dye artist, Yasuo Nakajima comes to Roseburg. Along with the locals, many artist from the northwest and USA attend.
1997 - Statues at Roseburg & Shobu City Hall’s -Presented by Shobu, commemorating 5th anniversary of program.
1997 - Sister Cities sponsors first Japanese Obon Festival feature Taiko Drums, food, and many cultural booths.
1998 - Sister Cities sponsors “Japanese Traditions in Food & Art” at UCC.
2000 - Sister Cities sponsors Japanese Cultural Workshops at UCC, taught by Chiaki & Yasuko Koyama, Shobu.
2000 - Portland’s Consul General from Japan comes to Roseburg. (Either he or a representative often attends a dinner during the annual visit of the Japanese delegation.)
2002 - Sister Cities & Douglas Co. Master Gardeners sponsor Workshops, again taught by the Koyama’s of Shobu.
2003 - Sister Cities 10 Year Anniversary – Cherry Tree Planting Ceremony & Plaque at UCC.
2010 - Shobu Machi becomes part of the larger city of Kuki, Saitama in March of 2010
2014 – Planting of cherry tree at Umpqua Valley Arts Center for 20th anniversary of sister cities and in memory of those that have passed
2015 – Kuki City Mayor Kenji Tanaka comes to Roseburg for re-dedication of the Sister City agreement between Roseburg and Kuki
2019 - Newly elected Kuki City Mayor Shuichi Umeda visits Roseburg along with other City Officials
2020 - A ginkgo tree seedling from a tree surviving the atomic bomb blast in Hiroshima, Japan is planted on the campus of Umpqua Community College
2023 - Plaque is placed at the ginkgo tree site during the Kuki City Delegation Visit in June.
2024 - October2-11, 2024 - Adult Delegation to Japan