CLAIR supports local governments in the US, Canada, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago that wish to develop new relationships or conduct activities through existing sister city or sister state or province relationships with Japanese local governments.
If you would like to see a list of sister cities, please look at:
- US – Japan
- Canada – Japan
- Jamaica－Japan
- Trinidad and Tobago－Japan
Becoming a sister
If you would like to develop a sister relationship with a Japanese prefecture or community, please feel free to consult with CLAIR/JLGC. We would appreciate it if you could supply the following documents to us:
- A profile of your state or community, including information on:
- Population, area and a geographical or topographical outline, including access from the nearest international airport;
- Industrial, cultural and educational activities and facilities, along with any special historical background;
- Specific expectations for the counterpart Japanese city or prefecture;
- Types of sister city or state/prefecture exchange programs desired;
- Contact information for officials or organizations with authority to expedite the sister city or prefecture selection process;
- Any other information you feel is relevant
- A pamphlet or other materials about your city or state/province (if available)
Once we have this information, JLGC will list it along with your request for a sister relationship on our CLAIR website.
Incidentally, the first North America-Japan sister city affiliation was established between the City of Saint Paul and the City of Nagasaki in 1955.
CLAIR also provides this service to Japanese prefectures and local governments wishing to initiate sister relationships with states/provinces and local governments in North America or the Caribbean. Please click here to view the list of these local governments.
Other Support for Sister Cities / States
Besides JLGC’s direct efforts on behalf of sister relationships, we also partner with Sister Cities International and the JET Alumni Association, through its various chapter or national bodies, including JETAA USA, in their efforts to support these relationships.
For Sister Cities International, please go to http://www.sister-cities.org/
For information on what JETAA USA and its member chapters can do to help support sister city and sister state relationships, please go to http://www.jetaausa.com/national-initiatives/sister-cities-states/support-services/.
For information on connecting with other JETAA groups, please go to http://jetprogramme.org/en/jetaa/