JAPAN — Six Kaua‘i Yamaguchi Kenjin Kai members — Cheryl Shintani, Brian Yamamoto, Steven Nishimura, Jaycie Matsunami, Sae Yamaguchi, a 2021-2022 exchange student from Yamaguchi University studying at the Kaua‘i Community College, and Noa Noguchi, a third year Kaua‘i CC student whose ‘ohana resides in Suo Oshima — recently returned from Japan where they were participants in the historic signing of the Sister State Agreement between the State of Hawai‘i and the Prefecture of Yamaguchi in Japan.
“Kaua‘i has been in the forefront of the Sister State partnership,” Shintani said. “When we met Yamaguchi Prefecture Governor Tsugumasa Muraoka, Assembly Chairman Shungaku Yanai, the mayors, school administrators, and community partners, we heard a lot about the connections with our Kaua‘i island.”
Rep. Dee Morikawa stood by Gov. David Ige as the witness to the signing of the agreement on Aug. 27 in Suo-Oshima, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. Shintani delivered Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami’s congratulatory message and Nishimura read and presented Kawakami’s proclamation for the Sister State Agreement.
The Sister State ceremony and reception is not related to the Sister City relationship between Kaua‘i County and Suo Oshima in Yamaguchi Prefecture except that the official signing of the Sister State agreement between the two governors was held in Suo Oshima, Shintani said.
“The beginnings of the Sister State Agreement started a few years ago when many of us ‘Yamaguchians’ were asked to speak at the Legislative’s Sister State Committee hearing,” Shintani said. “We spoke of our ties with Yamaguchi Prefecture, the partnerships we have, and the connection of the people of Hawai‘i with Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japan. I spoke of our long partnership with Suo Oshima being Sister Cities with the County of Kaua‘i for nearly 60 years.”
Yamaguchi Prefecture Gov. Muraoka included in this year’s budget that Hawai‘i, including the five Yamaguchi Kenjinkai in Hawai‘i, would come to the summer Sister State Ceremony with two of the five Yamaguchi Kenjinkai — Honolulu and Kaua‘i — participating.
“For us on Kaua‘i, this was very special to attend the Sister State ceremony because it was going to be held in our Sister City of Suo Oshima,” Shintani said.
Gov. Muraoka also included in his budget that Yamaguchi people will come to Hawai‘i starting in 2023 for fellowship and goodwill. Gov. Muraoka is also expected to come to Hawai‘i this winter season for the same type of Sister State Ceremony and Reception, Shintani said.
“On Jan. 16, 2023, the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, more than 60 Suo Oshima High School students, faculty, and Yamaguchi Prefectural government staff will come to Kaua‘i for a day to see some of the sites and spend time with community members,” Shintani said. “Tentative plans include sightseeing at the Waimea Canyon, and a lunch reception at the Kaua‘i Soto Zenshuji Temple in Hanapepe.”
During the Japan tour, three of the six Kaua‘i members participated in the tour of Yamaguchi Prefecture that was coordinated by the Yamaguchi Prefectural Government, and JTB-USA that included historical sites, places of nature, and towns to learn of members’ roots, orchards, and the Yamaguchi University where students attend Kaua‘i Community College for a year.
