Colorado Springs Sister Cities International
Fujiyoshida, Japan
Host families are needed each year. So if you know of any one interested in serving please get in touch with chair Jill McMillan by email.
PAST STUDENT EXCHANGES
In June of 2004, the Rampart High School Japan Club members traveled to Fujiyoshida. They stayed with host families who shared their everyday experiences with them.
Each summer Fujiyoshida middle school students and chaperones visit Colorado Springs. They stay with host families here, many of whom have served as hosts in the past. This past year's visitors range from 14 to 15 years of age. They attend Junior High Schools in Fujiyoshida. The chaperones are usually from Fujiyoshida City Hall and teachers from local Schools. Group activities include tours to the top of Pikes Peak, the Garden of the Gods City Park and Trading Post. Also a picnic is held for the visitors, their hosts, Rampart High School student volunteers and members of CSSCI. While the visitors are here, they share everyday life experiences with the host families such as visits to shopping malls, restaurants, movies, nearby tourists attractions, participate in sports, and meet and make friends with other young people of similar ages.
Visit of Fujiyoshida Taiko Drummers
October 23-29, 2005, Colorado
Springs Sister Cities hosted a group
of Taiko Drummers from Fujiyoshida.
They entertained at schools and
gave a joint concert with the
Colorado Springs Youth Symphony.
Fujiyoshida Mayor Horiuchi receives a gold medallion commemorating the 50th anniversary of our Sister City relationship from Robin Lawrentz in a May, 2010 ceremony.
Fujiyoshida, Japan, a city of 56,000 people is located in the center of the Japanese main island of Honshu. The city rests at the base of majestic Mount Fuji, and is built upon old lava flows. It is considered a high-elevation city in Japan at 2,140 to 2,800 feet above sea level. The city is also located between two of the five Fuji Lakes. Since olden times, Fujiyoshida has produced high quality textiles, and now is the center of commerce and high technology in southern Yamanashi Prefecture.
Both lying at the foot of mountains, Fujiyoshida and
Colorado Springs entered into a sister city
relationship in 1962. Reciprocal Mayoral visits
occurred in 2002 to celebrate the 40th anniversary
of the relationship.
SYMBOLS OF JAPANESE SISTER CITY REJUVENATED IN 2004, 2007
The torii gate, shrine and crisscrossed bridge, located in the North Nevada Avenue median between Platte Ave. and Bijou St. in downtown Colorado Springs, were repainted in 2004 & 2007. Rampart High School Japan Club students, who are studying the Japanese history and language, volunteered to scrape and repaint the structures. They were supervised by their teachers, Alex Echevarria and Liz Groothof-Croddy. The City's Operations Division donated ladders, paint and brushes for the event. For their dedicated effort, Carl's Jr Restaurant rewarded the student with free hamburgers.
The Japanese structures were a gift to Colorado Springs in 1966 from the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs in commemoration of the Sister City relationship between Colorado Springs and Fujiyoshida. A plaque near the torii says the purpose of the sister city relationship is to promote understanding between the people of our two countries and cities.
STUDENT EXCHANGES
The Fujiyoshida Student exchange program has become an annual event and one in which many lasting friendships have been formed.
In 2010, the Japanese exchange students visit coincided with the Pikes Peak International Music Festival "In Harmony" held July 26 to August 1, 2010.