No.131 3 years since the last Citizen Festival held - Guests from Sister City Foster City

The 21st Inagi City Citizen Festival was held from October 21 to 23. Due to the impact of COVID-19, it was canceled in the 2nd and 3rd years of Reiwa, making this the first event in three years.

At each venue entrance, we implemented measures such as temperature checks and hand sanitization, limiting the number of exhibition tents, and arranging the layout for one-way traffic. Despite these infection prevention measures, we were able to conduct the event in a manner very close to normal. We would like to express our gratitude once again to the members of the executive committee and all those involved who supported the citizens' festival.

In the past, the city held the Industrial Festival and the Citizens' Cultural Festival as separate events. Additionally, the "Garden City" event at Shiroyama Park, which had been continued for nine years since the Heisei era as part of Tokyo's efforts to revitalize the Tama New Town area, was canceled due to financial circumstances.

At that time, the city was in the midst of the Tama New Town development, with a rapid increase in new residents moving in, and interaction with existing residents became a significant challenge.

In this situation, the cancellation of the Garden City has sparked a growing call for a citywide citizen participation festival as a new venue for interaction between new and old residents. After discussions in a citizens' study group, it has been decided to integrate and hold various festivals.

Thus, the first event was held at Inagi Central Park in October 2002, and this year marks the 21st time.

Now, the Koyodai, Nagamine, and Wakabadai areas of the Tama New Town district have completely blended into Inagi City, and the interaction between new and old residents is progressing, but I believe that the role this citizen festival has played is also significant.

And the Citizen Festival has developed into a larger venue for interaction among local residents and exchanges with domestic Sister Cities and Friendship Cities.

This time, 33 citizens from Foster City, California, USA, which established a sister city partnership last July, visited the citizens' festival on the 22nd and 23rd.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Steve Okamoto, the president of the "Foster City Sister City Association," which serves as the contact point for exchanges with Foster City, took the stage and introduced Foster City in Japanese.

On the first day, we held a welcome party at a hotel in Tachikawa. We showcased traditional Japanese dance and performed our songs with guitar accompaniment by a director of the Inagi City Sister City Friendship Exchange Association, which serves as the contact point for exchanges from the Inagi City side. I believe we were able to enjoyably interact through singing together and other activities.

On the second day, after observing the Hyakunin Taiko, we had a lunch meeting at Yomiuriland "Tensan", followed by enjoyable citizen exchanges. We showcased an introduction to Inagi City in English from the children participating in the pen pal program (the email version of traditional correspondence) currently being promoted by the exchange association, a performance by the citizen chorus, and a performance by the calligraphy club of Komazawa Gakuen Junior and Senior High School.

Of the 33 people who came to Inagi, except for 2, it was their first visit to Japan, and I believe there was some culture shock. However, right after their arrival, they expressed their thoughts about Inagi City, saying, "It's a beautiful city!" and regarding our hospitality, they said, "It's wonderful!" As someone welcoming them, I was very pleased to hear this.

In February next year, a group of volunteers from Inagi City is scheduled to visit the United States. It seems that everyone in Foster City is already brainstorming ideas for welcoming Inagi City based on this visit.

The conclusion of the overseas Sister City partnership was realized after a long discussion in the citizens' study group, and the fact that actual human exchanges have finally begun is truly an overwhelming event for the members of the exchange association and for me.

I hope that next year's visit to the United States will be successful and that the children's homestays will be realized soon.