Kumagaya, Japan
The Invercargill-Kumagaya sister city relationship was sparked in 1988 by business owners keen to form trading links with the city, which has a population of more than 200,000 and is about 60km from central Tokyo.
There are similarities with Invercargill: it is an agricultural town with open spaces, mountains in the background and a friendly, rugby-loving population. Council endorsement was needed for the establishment of a sister city relationship and in 1991 the then-Mayor Eve Poole visited Kumagaya. The sister city agreement was signed in 1993.
In 2003, 10 years after the official signing, the Mayors of Invercargill and Kumagaya made reciprocal visits to each other’s cities to re-sign the sister city agreement. During the year-long celebrations, groups of students, teachers, citizens and Councillors from each city made exchange visits.
Kumagaya has taken its place on the iconic signpost at Stirling Point in the port town of Bluff. Japanese visitors can be forgiven for feeling a little homesick when they check the signpost – and find they are 9632km from home!
The Kumagaya influence on Invercargill can be seen around the city. Queens Park has a Japanese Garden which includes a cherry tree donated by the Kumagaya International Friendship Society. The Gala Street Reserve has the Kumagaya City symbol depicted in box hedging and white quartz gravel. The Kumagaya City symbol has also been incorporated into the decor of the Council’s Civic Administration Building in Esk Street. Two “Pacific Rim” sculptures were created by local artist Phil Newbury to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the cities’ relationship. One stands outside the Civic Adminstration Building and the other is at City Hall in Kumagaya.
Invercargill’s Kumagaya Friendship Association was formed in February 2004. It includes representatives of businesses, community organisations and members of the public with an interest in Kumagaya. The association, which is chaired by Invercargill shipping agent Tom Sawyer, produces a regular newsletter.
Kumagaya Friendship Association
Email: kumagayafriendship@gmail.com
