• 10-Member Delegation from Toyota City visited Detroit and stayed with Host Families
   

As the City of Detroit and Toyota City, Japan continue their celebration of 65 years of friendship, a delegation of high school students from Toyota City, Japan spent nearly two weeks visiting Detroit.

The group members were staying with Detroit host families. During their stay, the delegation visited a number of Detroit cultural institutions, met with Detroit and Japanese officials and took a tour of the Ford Rouge Plant. The student group then concluded its visit with a farewell party with their host families and new friends in Detroit on August 12 at Farwell Recreation Center. During the party, host families and guests will sample traditional Japanese food and experience Japanese arts and culture.

Just last month in July, a four-member Toyota City delegation, including Mayor Toshihiko Ota, visited Detroit for a 65th anniversary celebration held at the Detroit Institute of Arts. That program featured remarks by Detroit and Toyota officials and performances by Great Lakes Taiko Center, a Japanese drum team, and the At-Will Band. The anniversary celebration was supported by donations from The Kresge Foundation (title sponsor) and the Japan Business Society of Detroit.

In September 1960, the Sister Cities relationship began with an agreement between two cities, both manufacturers of automobiles. The Sister Cities program focuses mainly on an annual student exchange program for high school students from Detroit and Toyota City.

In addition, the relationship has served as the foundation for the exchange of art and music through cooperative agreements with the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and counterparts in Toyota City, Japan.