How did Arlington celebrate the 25th anniversary of its sister-city relationship with Nagaokakyo, Japan? To find out, read a diary of the visit of 16 middle-school students and 12 adults kept by Rieko Tanaka, an Arlington resident who was a key force in organizing the effort. For an album of photos taken by Tanaka, click here >> At right, visitors could not catch a Sox game at Fenway, so they sat in Dice-K's press area.

Saturday, April 25

The group of Nagaokakyo city officials and students, teachers, parents arrived at Logan Airport safely around 6 p.m. While they wait for their luggage, Mayor Yutaka Oda befriended with the young local family (see the picture). School bus and minivan brought them to First Parish Universal Unitarian Church in Arlington Center where they met host families. After a short casual reception, they all went home with their host families except Mayor's group, who stayed at Homewood Suites Hotel.

Sunday, April 26
The guests from Nagaokakyo gathered at UU church at noon for their open to public dance event. With the people of Arlington, they danced “Nagaokakyo-Ondo,” the traditional folk dance whose lyrics describes the beauty of four seasons in Nagaokakyo. At 1 p.m, Mayor Oda and the chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Kevin Greeley, planted a commemorative cherry tree by the flagpole in front of the Town Hall. 

Monday, April 27
The group visited Ottoson Middle School. After the gifts were exchanged, Nagaokakyo students spent the whole morning shadowing the Ottoson students, attending classes and having lunch with their "Shadowee" students. 

After lunch, Nagaokakyo students had a building tour with Assistant Principal Megan Branco, followed by their performance of traditional “Naruko-Odori” in front of seventh-grade students. They also spent time with seventh-grade  students during cultural exchange hour, playing String and Ball, spinners, making origami, and teaching Ottoson students Japanese calligraphy. 

Meanwhile, the mayor's group had a building tour with the Assistant Principal John J. Gonsalves. They left Ottoson to visit the State House in Boston. They met state Sen. Kenneth Donnelly and state Rep. Sean Garballey, who gave the mayor's group a tour of the State House.  The group also visited Museum of Fine Arts, where they have the most extensive collection of Japanese fine arts outside Japan. Their neighboring city Kyoto is Boston's sister city, and they are  celebrating the 50th anniversary of that sister-city relationship. The MFA has a special exhibition of woodprints art depicting the scenes of old Kyoto. 

In the afternoon, the mayor's group visited Boston City Hall to meet Mayor Menino. Mayor Oda brought the official greeting letter from Mayor Kadokawa of Kyoto City to Menino, who welcomed the group, and gifts were exchanged. 

After the brief rest, the mayor's group attended the State of Town Address and the Town Meeting. Kevin Greeley mentioned the importance of sister-city relationship in the days of global economy and shrinking world. Mayor Oda addressed Town Meeting in English, also emphasizing the importance of the friendship and cultural exchange between the two communities in 21st century. Nagaokakyo students performed their traditional “Naruko-Odori” onstage to open the meeting. The resolution on the 25th anniversary of Arlington-Nagaokakyo sister-city relationship was adopted by vote and presented to Mayor Oda.

Tuesday, April 28
Both the mayor's group and the students' group spent the morning at Arlington High School. The chorus director, Ms. Cheryl Christo, welcomed the students group and kindly offered her office as their “base camp” during the visit. The students of AHS gave Nagaokakyo group a tour before the welcome ceremony at the auditorium. Principal Charles Skidmore welcomed the delegate, followed by AHS student Courtney Lynne Jones, who gave a welcome speech in Japanese. (Courtney was a member of 2007 APS students group to visit Nagaokakyo.)

Followed by the gift exchange, Dr. Nobuko Asawa, the chairman of Board of Education addressed AHS teachers and students, thanking them for their hospitality and praised their school and the town of Arlington. Nagaokakyo students performed their “Naruko-Odori,” which was received with loud applause.

After the ceremony, the group visited Superintendent Kathy Bodie in the School Committee room before the students participated in music technology class with teacher John DiTomaso. They learned how to create music using a computer. 

Before lunch, the group enjoyed the softball game with AHS students. Mayor Oda, Mr. Yagi, the City Council chair; and Mr. Kawamura, chaperone teacher and Board of Education member, joined the students and played a game in 90-degree sunny weather. 

After lunch at cafeteria, the group moved to Stratton Elementary School, where Principal Alan Brown and School Committee member Joe Curro welcomed the group.

The whole school assembly met the group. Principal Brown, student Daytawn Campbell and one parent spoke. In his speech, Mr.Yagi thanked them for their hospitality. Stratton's second-grade students sang a Japanese song “Tsuki (Moon)” and a song from an American play, followed by Nagaokakyo students' “Naruko-Odori.” 

After the building tour, Nagaokakyo students enjoyed cultural exchange with second-grade students of Stratton, making origami, playing with spinners and srting and balls, and teaching Japanese calligraphy. 

Wednesday, April 29
The mayor's group left for Japan in the morning. The students' group visited Harvard Yard and the State House in the morning. They met state Sen. Donnelly, state Rep. Will Brownsberger and state Rep. Garballey. Donnelly and Garballey gave them a tour, and the students learned some Massachusetts history and a glimpse of how state government works. In the afternoon, they visited the Museum of Science.

Thursday, April 30
Many of Nagaokakyo students had been hoping to watch the Red Sox game in Boston during their visit. Unfortunately, the Red Sox were on the road at this time. 

Instead, they visited Fenway in the morning of April 30. The Tour was given by Japanese-speaking guide and the students explored the media booth, Green Monster, and Japanese Media Room, where Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka holds press conference. 

They had lunch at Boston Common. They had heard so much about Burger King from Katherine Goldman, the Hardy Elementary School teacher who has been teaching in Nagaokakyo for two years. Here, they got their chances to try the famous Whopper. All had Whoppers and liked them very much. After that, they walked a part of Freedom Trail and learned about American Revolution and the role Boston played in it.They finished their day at Quincy Market, where they shopped for souvenir for their classmates, teachers, families and relatives. 

Friday, May 1
They braved the rough weather on the whale-watching boat in the morning. Some of students and adults felt sick, but they saw whales and were very excited.  Some brave souls were playing “Titanic” on deck, getting wet from waves splashing. 

In the afternoon, they enjoyed the ride on Duck Tour Boat. Some students had chances to drive the boat on the Charles River. The Charles River has no rough waves, and no one got sick. 

Saturday, May 2
All guests spent time with their host families. Some families got together and went to the MFA or went bowling at Jillian's in Boston, and then had a potluck party at home. 

Sunday, May 3
The group's last day in Arlington. Most spent the day with their host families. Some students and host family members went to watch Pawtucket Red Sox game. In the evening, they attended a farewell party at Whittemore-Robbins House in the evening. Susumu Kawamura, the member of the Board of Education and the leader of the students' group, spoke to the host families and friends in English, saying the both teachers and students will never forget the kindness and hospitality that showed by the people of Arlington. The students sang “This Land is Your Land,” “Help,” “Furusato (home town),” and “If You Happy and You Know It.”  There were many tears and hugs at the party. They left Arlington next morning for Japan.