Madison Reporter

A delegation from Madison, Wisconsin is set to visit Obihiro, Japan next week to reinforce the sister city relationship between the two cities. The visit has been organized by the Madison-Obihiro Sister Cities Inc. board with an aim to foster peace and cultural understanding. Funding for the trip comes from individual members of the delegation, ensuring no taxpayer money is used.

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway will lead the delegation and expressed gratitude towards Obihiro Mayor Yonezawa for hosting them. She stated, "In addition to sharing similar climates, Madison and Obihiro also are leading cities in their commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability."

The delegation includes Mayor Rhodes-Conway’s partner Amy, Council Vice President MGR Govindarajan, Alderman Yannette Figueroa-Cole, Sister City Coordinator Laila D’Costa, Board President Jo Oyama Miller, and Board Members Emma Hahn and Patrick Miles.

Jo Oyama-Miller played a key role in organizing this trip and emphasized the importance of cultural exchange: “I am thrilled to be able to work with our friends in Obihiro to create this opportunity.”

Vice President Govindarajan highlighted the significance of international collaboration amid growing global tensions: “For me, these connections highlight how much stronger our communities become when we embrace global cooperation.”

Alderman Figueroa-Cole plans to explore agricultural lands and urban parks in Obihiro: “There is a lot we can learn from each other,” she noted.

Patrick Miles, Chair of the Dane County Board and a second-generation Japanese American, sees this as both an official mission and a personal journey. He remarked on the enduring partnership between Madison and Obihiro: "For twenty years, our partnership with Obihiro has been a bridge across the globe."

Obihiro was chosen as a sister city in 2006 due to shared characteristics such as growing international populations and strong economic sectors. The upcoming visit will provide insights into local governance and culture from July 2-12.

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