A visit to our Sister City:
Muroran, Japan
 

I just returned home from the trip of a lifetime: a two-week visit to Japan including time in Knoxville's Sister City, Muroran.

Knoxville has had a Sister City connection with Muroran, Japan, since 1991. Mayors Ashe, Brown and Rogero visited Muroran, and I am so grateful to continue this tradition accompanied by my husband Ben and daughter Georgia.

We caught up with a delegation of 19 parents, students and teachers from Cedar Bluff Middle School, which has coordinated student exchanges for the past three decades. People who participated as students are now old enough to host as adults.

Muroran rolled out the red carpet for us! At City Hall and at Shoyo Junior High, crowds greeted us with American flags and applause. The Japanese students treated us to an excellent jazz band performance, and the Cedar Bluff students performed an energetic country music line dance.

Throughout the trip, we remarked upon our similarities and shared experiences -- geographic likenesses of our mountains and rivers, memories of past visits, as well as future aspirations. We enjoyed many delicious meals and packed in as many activities as possible: we visited a swordsmithy, walked on the beach, tried on kimonos, enjoyed a tea ceremony, and even did karaoke with Mayor Aoyama T.

I learned a Japanese proverb that truly sums up our experience:

可愛い子には旅をさせよ
Kawaii Ko Ni Wa Tabi Wo Saseyo

"If you love your children, send them out into the world."

We look forward to hosting Muroran again in Knoxville soon!

Very truly yours,