Eugene city officials to welcome youth delegation from Japan’s Kakegawa for four-day visit

Eugene, OR – A youth delegation from Kakegawa, Japan, Eugene’s Sister City, will arrive on Thursday, March 27, for a four-day visit aimed at fostering cultural exchange and friendship. The delegation includes seven high school students accompanied by two adult chaperones.

Coordinated by the Eugene Kakegawa Sister City Committee, the visit will begin with a formal reception at Eugene City Hall, where Mayor Kaarin Knudson will welcome the group. The students will then explore Eugene and surrounding areas with their host families over the following days.

Eugene’s Sister Cities program dates back to 1961, when the city established its first sister city relationship with Jinju, South Korea, followed by Kathmandu, Nepal, and Kakegawa, Japan. The program was created to promote peace, understanding, and international friendship.

From 2006 to 2019, Kakegawa sent high school delegations to Eugene annually as part of a cultural exchange initiative. This year’s visit marks the formal resumption of the tradition after a hiatus.

The Eugene Kakegawa Sister City Committee, a non-profit funded in part by the City of Eugene, facilitates and supports the ongoing relationship between the two cities.