The Founding of the Sister City Organization

In May 1977 through mutual friends, a telecommunication took place between Nori Fujii, Tokyo, Japan, and Barrett G. Kemp, St. Marys, Ohio. This seed of friendship began by including the Working Youth Goodwill Mission to the United States from Japan and ultimately a lasting friendship with Dr. Kenzabura Hara, Speaker of the House in Japan. This threesome, in the years to follow, developed a Sister City Relationship, beginning in 1985, between Hokudan-Cho, Awaji Island, Japan and St. Marys, Ohio. Many adults and youth have traveled back and forth between the two cities. In 2005, Hokudon-Cho merged with four other surrounding cities and formed a new city of Awaji City, Japan, which continued the sister City relationship with St. Marys, Ohio. In 2010, the two cities will celebrate their 25th anniversary of the Sister City relationship.

The Founders of the St. Marys Sister Cities program from left to right; Nori Fujii, Shirley Kemp, Dr. Kenzabura Hara, Barrett G. Kemp, and Mrs. Hara