Mr.Masayoshi Matsumoto

I would like to congratulate you on celebrating the 50th anniversary of our sister city partnership between TambaSasayama City and Walla Walla City.

It started when the mayor of Shoichi Fujii Sasayama and Mayor John D. Swank Walla Walla were formed an international sister city alliance on August 15, 1972. I had the opportunity to hear the necessity of international exchange directly from Mr. Fujii in 1975. It is now revived with all my heart that I am told that I understand different cultures, deepen human and economic exchanges, give fruits of friendship, and seek peace and coexistence and co-prosperity.

I have been working on the friendship of both cities for 23 years, part of the committee. Children in both cities are contributing to society using the experiences gained through studying abroad as food for their lives. In addition, citizens' mutual visits understood the culture of both cities and enriched the connection between mind and mind. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the warm cooperation of both sister city committees and both citizens for gift for half a century.

ICT made it even closer to both citizens. I hope that the exchange of economics and specialties that I had never achieved before will progress and history with my beloved Walla Walla forever.