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Sister Cities Klaipeda and Kuji Celebrate the 20th Anniversary

On June 25, Mr. Takafumi Yamauchi, Mayor of Kuji City (Iwate Pref.) which enjoys sister-city relations with its Lithuanian counterpart of Klaipeda, met the Lithuanian Ambassador in Tokyo. The courtesy call was made in advance of the visit to Klaipeda of the 15-strong delegation led by the Mayor of Kuji City to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the sister-city relations under the invitation of Klaipeda City. Fron July 31 to August 3, the delegation will take part in the events of the annual Sea Festival, and will also introduce traditional Japanese art, tea ceremony, calligraphy, flower arrangement, martial arts, Japanese cuisine and crafts. In addition, the delegation will visit the Sugihara Memorial Museum in Kaunas.

In Japan, the 20th anniversary of the sister-city relations between Klaipeda and Kuji will be marked by a concert given by piano duet Ruta and Zbignevas Ibelhauptas, winners of the National Award, at the Kuji City Amber Hall on August 19.

Located in a remote area of Northern Japan, despite its tiny population of less than 40,000, Kuji City has been a keen supporter of Lithuania's independence. During the economic blocade of Lithuania, the Kuji citizens donated medicine and clothes to Klaipeda. Moreover, after the Soviet military bloodshed in Vilnius on January 13, 1991, a letter of protest signed by Kuji citizens was sent to the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.