History of Sister City Exchanges between Sayama and Worthington
1991/5/19
The Sayama International Friendship Association (SIFA) was established.
1992
Questionnaires were distributed to the SIFA members.
A majority of members wanted to find a sister city in the State of Ohio,
the U. S.A. followed by Australia.
1993
SIFA sent letters to six candidate cities in Ohio.
1993/3
SIFA sent its 6-member survey delegation to those six cities.
1993/7
SIFA Board decided to establish a people-to-people relationship with the
City of Worthington, and made a proposal to the City of Worthington.
Key Points of Exchanges: Grass-roots Cultural Exchanges
Establish a good record of `people-to-people exchanges' for the time being.
Aim at establishing a `sister city' relationship in the near future.
1994/3 to 4
First 4-delegate homestay delegation from Worthington International Friendship Association (WIFA) visited Sayama.
1994/10
First 6-delegate homestay delegation from SIFA visited Worthington.
1995/10
Second 4-delegate homestay delegation from WIFA visited Sayama.
1996/8
Second 9-delegate homestay delegation from SIFA visited Worthington.
1997/7 to 8
Third 5-delegate homestay delegation from WIFA visited Sayama.
1997/11/24
The Worthington City Council passed a unanimous resolution to conclude a sister city agreement with the City of Sayama.
1998/9
Third 6-delegate homestay delegation from SIFA visited Worthington.
1999/7/19
Sayama City's Fifth Sister City Selection Committee submitted to Mayor Machida its recommendation to establish a sister city relationship with the City of Worthington.
1999/8/22
The Sayama City Council passed the resolution to establish the sister city
relationship with the City of Worthington.
1997/9/30 to 10/3
5-member official delegation led by Mayor Machida visited the City of Worthington.
1999/10/29 to 11/5
Fourth 6-delegate homestay delegation from WIFA visited Sayama.
1999/10/31 to 11/4
Mayor James. J. Lorimer of the City of Worthington visited the City of
Sayama to sign the Sister City Agreement.
1999/11/1
The Sister City Agreement was signed at the Sayama City Hall between the City of Sayama and the City of Worthington.
1999/11/3
Mayor Lorimer and the WIFA delegation attended the Sayama City's 45th Anniversary
Ceremony as guests of honor.
2000/6/29 to 7/4
The City of Sayama sent its first youth baseball team to Worthington for goodwill games and homestay.
2000/10/28 to 11/5
Fourth 10-delegate homestay delegation from SIFA visited Worthington.
(They visited Washington DC 11/2 to 11/4.)
2001/10/21 to 28
Fifth 9-delegate homestay delegation from WIFA visited Sayama.
2002/7/31 to 8/5
The City of Worthington sent its first youth baseball delegation to the
City of Worthington, which consisted of 16 players, three coaches and 18
parents.
2002/10/16 to 22
Fifth 5-delegate homestay delegation from SIFA visited Worthington
(attended the Founders Day Festival on October 19, 2002).
2003/8/22 to 28
Sayama sent a youth soccer team to Worthington for goodwill games and homestay
(consisting of 32 players, three coaches and two interpreters and two staffmembers).
Mayor Nakagawa, City Council Chairman Okutomi, SIFA President Noguchi and two staff members visited the City of Worthington to participate in the Bicentennial Founders Weekend activities.
2004/7/31 to 8/5
Youth soccer delegation from Worthington visited Sayama for goodwill soccer
games and homestay.
(Delegation consisted of 14 players, three coaches and 8 parents.)
2004/9/22 to 27
Sixth 7-delegate homestay delegation from WUFA visited Worthington.
(They visited Washington DC from 9/27 through 9/29 on their way home.)
Compiled by: Sayama International Friendship Association (SIFA)
Updated: September 14, 2004
