Councils
Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark along with deputy Mayor Tom Campbell and councillors Trish Boyle, Alex Crackett, Darren Ludlow and Barry Stewart went on a four-day trip to Kumagaya for a 30 year signing of the sister city relationship. Related: 90 Seconds+ with Invercargill City Mayor Nobby Clark – Japan Trip Recap
In a city parade, Mayor Nobby Clark was the first non-Japanese to ever get to stand on a fan festival float.
It was a great honor and showed the esteem he is held by the Kumagaya delegation. The festival draws 400,000 people. The Invercargill-Kumagaya sister city relationship was formalised in 1993 and has since sparked student exchanges, reciprocal official visits and the formation of the Kumagaya Friendship Association.
Photo: Welcome ceremony 30 year anniversary signing by Mayors of Kumagaya and Invercargill. Photo: whatsoninvers.nz
The delegation spent one night in Tokyo and three nights in Kumagaya, along with an interpreter and one council staff member. The group held a re-signing ceremony to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the agreement, signed in 1993, and resigned 10 years later, following inter-city visits from the Mayor and councillors.
The group participated in the Kumagaya Uchiwa Festival, visited its rugby stadium, and also traveled to the town of Nagatoro, where there was a farewell party hosted by the Kumagaya International Friendship Association.
Feature Photo: Mayor Nobby and Mayoress Karen all dressed up in Kimono’s for a festival in Kumagaya. Photo: whatsoninvers.nz