Austin­Oita, Japan Sister City Relationship

The Sister Cities Program fosters friendly relations and understanding between citizens of Austin and its sister cities around the world. The program promotes Austin’s educational, cultural and economic presence in the international community.

Oita, Japan is one of Austin’s 13 Sister Cities. The Austin­Oita Sister City Committee (AOSCC) was founded in 1990. It is a non­profit, volunteer organization that seeks to promote and heighten public interest in and appreciation of the culture, people, languages, business, and products of the greater Austin, Texas area and the city of Oita, Japan and its surrounding areas.

The Sister City relationship with Oita focuses on: ● Exchange between universities. ● Cultural and people­to­people exchanges, with the intent that visitors to the other city not participate in just tourist activities but meet with their counterparts to discuss and learn about life in the sister city. ● Athletic exchanges.

Recent programs have included: ● The committee has sent Austin musicians, including Gina Chavez and Matt the Electrician, and most recently in October 2018, Austin musicians Lindsey Verrill, Jeff Johnston and Ethan Azarian to Oita’s Yumeiro Musical Festival. ● Austin runners David Fuentes and Cate Barrett competed in the 2019 Beppu­Oita Marathon. We are preparing to send Austin runners again in 2021. ● Athletes from Japan have participated in both the Austin Marathon and the Statesman Capitol 10,000, most recently in 2018. AOSCC sponsored a water station and Team Japan in February 2019’s Austin Marathon with over 35 local Japanese runners participating. ● Japanese ceramicist Kuniyuki Sashihara visited Austin for 3 weeks In February 2017. ● The committee has sent wheelchair athletes from Austin to compete in the Oita Wheelchair Marathon – held for 30 years and one of the largest events of its kind in the world. ● The Tesshin Daiko Japanese Drum Troupe visited Austin 3 times. ● Active educational exchanges have occurred between Asia Pacific University located in Beppu, Japan and St. Edward’s University and The University of Texas at Austin

The Austin­Oita Sister City Committee has enjoyed the support of various city departments, elected officials and related organizations including Councilman Jimmy Flannigan and Austin Sister Cities International (ASCI).

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www.austinoita.org | @austinoita Austin-Oita Sister City Committee (AOSCC) is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation. Tax ID: 74-2650479. AOSCC is a member of Austin Sister Cities International which is a member of Sister Cities International.