COMMUNITY IOWA SISTER STATES Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan Information compiled by Iowa Sister States executive director, Heather Jones The oldest sister state relationship that the state of Iowa has is our relationship with Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan. This relationship blossomed in a very Iowa fashion – through friendship and farming. In 1959, a typhoon devastated Yamanashi Prefecture. In response, Iowa sent 35 breeding hogs and 100,000 bushels of corn to help with the recovery – an event that is famously known today as the Iowa Hog Lift. This impact can still be felt in 2019 as there are pigs in Yamanashi to this day with lineage from those original 35 hogs. While you can go see it year-round, each New Year’s Eve day the Japan America Society of Iowa rings the bell to celebrate the new year. It is an event open to everyone that is a great way to stay connected to our Yamanashi partners in spirit. The people of Yamanashi and Iowa continue to grow and nurture this relationship. Over the years there have been exchanges in students, nursing, agriculture, young professionals and even bacon! The list of exchanges is endless, and it continues to grow. Yamanashi and Iowa would go on to become Sister States in 1960 by a formal agreement, signed between Governor Norman Erbe of Iowa and Governor Hisashi Amano of Yamanashi. This agreement marked not only Iowa’s very first sister state relationship, but also the first sister state relationship between the United States and Japan in general. As a sign of appreciation for the generosity of livestock and grain in 1959 from Iowa, the Yamanashi government commissioned “The Peace Bell” to be sent to Iowa in 1962. The bell now sits on the hill just west of the Judicial Building and south of the state Capitol. To get involved with this wonderful relationship please connect with Iowa Sister States on Facebook and Twitter at @IASisterStates, on Instagram at @ IowaSisterStates or visit their website at www. iowasisterstates.org. About Yamanashi Population: 880,000 people Capital: Kofu Language: Japanese Area: 4,465 sq.km Religion: Shinto, Buddhism Major Attractions: Mt. Fuji, Southern Alps national Park, Shosenkyo Gorge Government: 50 executive branches headed by governor; legislative branch composed of a Prefectural Assembly Climate: temperate Web Resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_Hog_Lift https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2010/04/08/national/hog-story-tiesiowa-yamanashi/#.XLSyz-hKiUk https://www.radioiowa.com/2015/12/31/peace-bell-to-toll-in-iowa-thismorning-welcoming-new-year/ https://docs.wixstatic.com ugd/26fad8_50cd890fbe974df2bdb2a1e7d0815582.pdf May 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 23
24 Publizr Home