Sister-State relationship renewed by Governors Saito and Inslee (Hyogo Prefecture and Washington)
On September 13, 2023, the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan and Washington State celebrated the 60th anniversary of their sister-state relationship. This is the oldest formal relationship between a U.S. State and a Japanese Prefecture.
A Friendship Delegation accompanied Governor Motohiko Saito, the 53rd Governor of the Hyogo Prefecture who was inaugurated as Governor in August 2021. The day included a meeting between the Washington State Women’s Commission and Tamba Entrepreneurs, a tour of the Washington State House of Representatives for Prefectural Assembly Members, a bilateral meeting led by Governors Inslee and Saito while Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck hosted a meeting for legislators from our respective sister-states. In a formal ceremony the two governors renewed the mutual agreement
A joint communique in commemoration of the 60th anniversary included these statements: “Washington State and the Hyogo Prefecture share the belief that it is important to address issues and threats common to all humanity, such as climate change, large-scale disaster, infectious disease, and illness. The state of Washington and Hyogo Prefecture also recognize that international exchange starts from grassroots interaction at the person-to-person level. It is our hope that through grassroots programs in the fields of business, culture, education, the environment, and disaster risk reduction, our sister state relationship will contribute to the resolution of global issues and promote world peace.”
This event also marked the 20th anniversary of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Hyogo Administrative Policy Studies Association (HAPSA) and the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) – Evergreen Chapter. This international relationship was specifically noted in the newly signed agreement.
History Evergreen Chapter of and Hyogo Administrative Policy Studies Association Relationship
In the fall of 2003, the Evergreen Chapter of ASPA entered into an international Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Hyogo Administrative Policy Studies Association (HAPSA). This agreement was arranged, in part, to honor a long history of Washington State and the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan as sister-states.
At the national level, ASPA has increasingly promoted international activities. The MOU with HAPSA is unique, however, as it was the first to be taken on by a chapter of ASPA, as opposed to a university, which is more common. In 2008 HAPSA came under the umbrella of the Hyogo Earthquake Memorial 21st Century Research Institute, then led by Dr. Ryosuke Aota. A corps of HAPSA volunteers supports HAPSA’s collaboration with the ASPA Evergreen Chapter.
In 2013 our MOU was renewed following a joint seminar in Olympia, which occurred as part of a grand 50th sister-state anniversary of Hyogo and Washington state. Our collaboration has flourished with person-to-person exchanges in both countries, focusing on public policy, research, and issues that are of mutual interest to the sister-states.
In the Summer of 2018, the MOU was again recognized during the 55th sister-state anniversary of Hyogo and Washington state. Members of the official delegation and Evergreen ASPA members met at the Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray to discuss disaster response and preparedness issues. Following the meeting, ASPA members attended the official sister-state celebrations with Governor Toshizo Ido of Hyogo Prefecture and Governor Jay Inslee.
ASPA Evergreen/HAPSA News
2023 Hyogo Prefecture and Washington renew Sister-State relationship on 60th anniversary.
Governors Saito and Inslee met in Olympia to renew the relationship.
Press Release and Photo Gallery from the visit.
2016 ASPA Conference: Earthquake Preparedness & Response Panel
HAPSA and Evergreen Chapter Members Meet in Kobe, 2015
50th Sister-State Anniversary & Joint Seminar Program
50TH Anniversary Inculdes Renewal of MOU