Tue Sep 10 00:23:00 UTC 2024: ## Hood River and Tsuruta Sister City Exchange Resumes After Hiatus
**HOOD RIVER, OR** – The long-standing sister city exchange between Hood River and Tsuruta, Japan, has been revitalized after a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program, established in 1977, aims to foster friendship and cultural understanding between the two communities. Both share a strong agricultural connection, with Tsuruta being a major apple producer, mirroring Hood River’s own agricultural prominence.
Mayor Paul Blackburn, who recently returned from a trip to Tsuruta with a group of local students, emphasized the program’s significance. “By this point, hundreds have participated in this program,” he stated. The trip allowed students to experience Japanese culture firsthand, staying with host families and visiting historical sites like Hirosaki castle and temples at Mt. Iwaki.
The exchange also provides a valuable opportunity for cultural understanding and connection. “Watching the school children interact is such a special thing,” Blackburn noted. “Whatever else happens in this world, those children have met each other and seen another way of life.”
Niko Yasui, who organized the trip, highlighted the impact of the exchange, noting that “cultural differences begin to dissolve and travelers and hosts get to see all the things they have in common and build connections that can last lifetimes.”
The revitalization of the program signifies a renewed commitment to cross-cultural exchange and friendship between the two communities. Mayor Blackburn expressed his hope for more frequent trips in the future, leading up to the 50th anniversary of the program in 2027. Locals interested in participating in the exchange are encouraged to contact the city for more information.
First Piper 