Shiga-Michigan Sister State Program

Home , Hikone Castle, Lake Biwa, Shiga Prefecture

Michigan-Shiga Sister State Program

October 20th, 2015

Teruyuki Ueyama Visiting official （21st） Shiga Prefectural Government, JAPAN

Photos by Kentaro Taki (2012) Where is Japan ? 2

Here is Here is Michigan Japan

Distance : more than 6,000 miles Time difference : 14 hours (13 hours in Summer) (between Michigan and Shiga) Where is Shiga ? 3

北海道 Prefecture in Japan Hokkaido corresponds to …

State in America or Province in Canada 本州 Honshu

《》 220miles 東京 Tokyo

九州 Kyushu 47 prefectures in Japan 四国 Shikoku Why “Lake Country （湖国）” ? 4

Lake Biwa 琵琶湖

Shiga Prefecture 滋賀県 Lake “Biwa” （“琵琶”湖）? 5

BIWA Statistics of Shiga 6

 Area Shiga 1,570 ml2 Michigan 97,990 ml2 - 1/63

 Population Shiga 1,416,321 Michigan 10,508,876 - 1/7

 Land use - Shiga prefecture is almost covered with green and blue 3.5 5.9 6.3 51.0 Forest 13.6 Open water (Lakes, rivers) Paddy and Farm Land Urban Area 19.7 Roads The others  Industry – Shiga’s population employed in manufacturing is higher than the national average. agriculture 4% manufacturing 34% commerce 62%

Statistics of Shiga 7

Kyoto pref.

Shiga pref. Photos by Kentaro Taki Hyogo pref. (2007)  Lake Biwa – Lake Biwa : 240ml2 Osaka pref. Lake Michigan : 58,016ml2 – the biggest lake in Japan – 4 million years old (the 3rd oldest lake in the world) – Providing drinking water for 14 million people in Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo – Rich Ecosystem - 1000 species, including more than 50 native species Why Michigan & Shiga ? 8 Sister State Relationship was established in 1968 Shiga Governor Nozaki and Michigan Governor Romney signed the agreement at the state Capitol Building in Lansing, Michigan.

Great Lakes State

Lake Country Michigan-Shiga Sister State Board

What is the purpose of the Michigan Shiga Sister State Board

Coordinating Sister State Programs between Michigan and Shiga.

 One of the main projects of the Sister State Board is to coordinate the Goodwill Mission, which consists of Michigan citizens traveling to Shiga on odd-numbered years and Shiga citizens traveling to Michigan on even- numbered years. The board works closely with Shiga. Shiga Government send a visiting official to Lansing to stay for two years as a board member.  The Sister State Board is made up of representatives from the cities in Michigan that have established ties with cities in Shiga.

 Basically each city has two voting members on the board, and is welcome to have as many non-voting members as they wish.  The board meets three times a year, moving the meeting to different sister cities within the state. Sister State Board Meeting in Traverse City on May 14th 2013

Other Commitments : Sister Cites 10

 Sister City Relationships 1. Adrian – Moriyama 2. Ann Arbor – Hikone - 13 pairs of sister cities 3. Birmingham- Ritto - 5 pairs of friendship cities 4. Clinton Township – Yasu 5. DeWitt & DeWitt Twp. – Koka 6. Garden City *- Takashima 7. Grand Rapids – Omihachiman 8. Greater Lansing – Otsu 9. Marquette - Higashi Omi 10. Marshall – Koka 11. Olivet*-Maibara 12. Petoskey – Takashima 13. Pontiac – Kusatsu 14. Portland*-Nagahama 15. St. Johns* - Konan 16. Sault Saint Marie – Ryuo 17. Traverse City – Koka 18. Holland* − Nagahama

* indicates unofficial, friendship city status Other Exchange Programs 11

Childhood Children’s choir Middle school students Middle School Exchange Program, Each Sister city High school students High School Students Exchange Program College / University students Study Abroad Program, Japan Center for Michigan Universities Michigan Boat, Lansing Community College Professionals Professional Artists Exchange Program - Art from the Lakes JET program, Each Prefecture in Japan & CLAIR Anytime Michigan-Shiga Goodwill Mission Sister Cities’ Goodwill Mission, Each Sister City

During every stage of life, we are connecting with Michigan! 12

Photos by Kentaro Taki (2012) 13

Beautiful nature and Rich history

This Photo by Kentaro Taki Kentaro by Photo This Photos: © Biwako Visitors Bureau Famous Places To Visit 14

Photos: © Biwako Visitors Bureau 城 Castle

彦根城（彦根市） Hikone Castle in Hikone City Famous Places To Visit 15

Photos: © Biwako Visitors Bureau 街 Towns

新町通り（近江八幡市） Shin-machi Street in Omi-Hachiman City Famous Places To Visit 16 信楽焼 Shigaraki-Yaki

信楽町（甲賀市） Shigaraki Village in Koka City Famous Places To Visit 17

Photo by Toru Imai (2012) 港 Port

ミシガン船（大津港）

Photo by Marc Thomas Michigan Boat in Otsu Port (2013) Cherry Blossoms 18 春 Spring

桜

JapanesePhotos: © Biwako VisitorsCherry Bureau

Activities on Lake Biwa 19

Visitors Bureau Visitors 湖近江舞子湖水浴場（大津市）

Biwako

Lake

Visitors Bureau Visitors

なぎさ公園（大津市） Biwako

Visitors Bureau Visitors

安曇川河口（高島市）

松原水泳場（彦根市） Biwako

山伊吹山（米原市）

Autumn Leaves

Sato

Visitors Bureau Visitors Bureau Visitors Bureau Visitors

Yuuichi

Biwako Biwako Biwako

冬 Winter