Arlington school and town officials and the Nagaokakyo delegation at the commemorative tree planting in the city’s public plaza. / Photo coutesy Joan Roman
In 2024, the town celebrates a special anniversary of its partnership with a city more than 6,000 miles and an ocean away from Arlington. For 40 years now, Nagaokakyo, Japan, and Arlington have been “sister cities” – part of an worldwide effort to create international understanding and connection.
To celebrate four decades of exchanging its people, ideas and culture – Town Manager Jim Feeney, Fire Chief Kevin Kelley and members of the Arlington Public School district represented the town by visiting the sister city during the first week of October.
“It was truly inspiring to visit Nagaokakyo, Japan and celebrate our long-standing sister-city relationship with Mayor Nakakoji and his administration,” said Feeney.
“There were a lot of meetings to exchange ideas and discuss challenges faced by our respective local governments and school systems. It was instructive to see how they conduct business. We also discussed how to strengthen our relationship moving forward.”
Firefighters assemble before giving demonstrations at Otokuni Fire Station.
Superintendent Elizabeth Homan was in attendance for this trip, alongside School Committee Chair Paul Schlictmann and Weslie Pierre, director of communications and family engagement.
Albeit a short trip, as Homan described in an email to YourArlington, Arlington’s visit included tours of Nagaokakyo schools, its fire station and City Hall, and historical sites, including temples and shrines.
“I particularly enjoyed meeting the superintendent of schools and having lunch and playing games with a third-grade class, and learning about how they designed and built their newest elementary school,” Homan wrote.
History of sister cities in Mass., Arlington
Massachusetts has a total of 13 sister-city relationships with Japan, and Arlington was the fourth municipality in the state to form a partnership. Since 1972, the town had been accepting students from various parts of Japan as part of the country’s World Youth Exchange Program. 
Town Manager Jim Feeney visited Nagaokakyo Elementery School Students.
Within three years, the City of Nagaokakyo took notice and expressed interest in forming a sister-city program with Arlington. Led by Arlington resident Richard Smith, who died in 2013, the Arlington Youth Delegation traveled to Nagaokakyo to discuss the proposal. The sister-city affiliation was signed in Arlington on Sept. 21, 1984.
Almost 21 years later, in 2005, an official exchange program was initiated between the students of Arlington Public School District and Nagaokakyo, in which Japanese middle school students visit town each April, and students from Arlington High School and sometimes Ottoson Middle School travel to Nagaokakyo in July.
Students from both groups lodge through a host family system, which Homan maintains is the most important aspect of the exchange program.
Arlington families interested in hosting a student and their chaperone visiting in April 2025 are encouraged to reach out to familyengagement at] arlington.k12.ma.us for more information.
District, town cover costs
According to Pierre, the district and town covered the cost of flight and hotel lodging for the school officials who traveled to Nagaokakyo.
In a release posted to the town website this May, following the recent spring visit of Nagaokakyo students, Homan said, “Hosting students and delegates from our sister-city Nagaokakyo, Japan is a testament to the continued power of cultural exchange and friendship,”
“APS is honored to welcome the students into our learning communities, where they not only enriched their own perspectives but also inspired the Arlington students and staff that they visited.”
Homan said a group of high school students (including some recent graduates) traveled to Nagaokakyo this July for roughly 10 days.
While visiting one another’s sister cities, the program encourages students to act as “global ambassadors” promoting goodwill among the two countries, according to the exchange website.
Before departing, Arlington students attend specific courses designated to learning the culture and mannerisms of Japan and are encouraged to bring with them localized gifts that represent Arlington, Massachusetts or the country.
Students from Japan visit here
In April, roughly 15 students from Japan, aged 13 to 15, visited Arlington. While here, the students stopped at multiple Arlington schools and taught students about Japanese culture – in previous visits to Arlington, students from Nagaokakyo have attended Arlington elementary assemblies to showcase Japanese music, poetry and dancing, and young Arlington students were introduced to Japanese arts such as origami and calligraphy.
The Arlington Delegation with the Nagaokakyo Leadership.This year, Homan said the students visited a Red Sox Game and toured the Fenway area. among other local sightseeing – which included a visit to Arlington’s ACMi studios.
“I’m immensely proud of the impact this partnership has on our community, opening doors to understanding, learning, and lifelong friendships,” Pierre wrote in an email to YourArlington.
“It’s a powerful reminder that, through these connections, we can build a world that celebrates unity in diversity.
Also visiting from Nagaokakyo in April was Mayor Kengo Nakakoji and his delegation. In addition to their many stops throughout town, the group attended a session of this year’s annual Town Meeting, according to the town website. The delegation concluded their visit by dedicating the newly planted Yoshino Cherry Tree on the corner of Mystic and Summer Street, near the Arlington Police Department headquarters.
This year was the first in 10 years that members of Arlington’s town government, school district and other officials visited Nagaokakyo; the last visit, according to Public Information Officer Joan Roman, was to commemorate the 30th anniversary milestone, when Adam Chapedelaine was town manager.
‘A wonderful opportunity’
“This was a wonderful opportunity for all of us to experience Nagaokakyo and to get to know officials from the City,” Homan wrote. “We have all been hired into our positions after the last delegation trip took place, so none of us have had the opportunity to visit until this year.” 
The gift exchange between Fire Chief Hideyuki Kobayashi (left) and Chief Kevin Kelley following training exhibition and meeting at firehouse.
Fire Chief Kelley said he was honored to visit Nagaokakyo, specifically noting his introduction to its fire chief, Hideyuki Kobayashi.
“Although we are half a world away, the experience revealed how much more we have in common. I was especially moved by how warm and friendly they were to us and in their interactions with the public.”
According to Roman, a total of $7,744. 67 was spent in public funding to send Feeney and Chief Kelley on this trip. Roman wrote that these expenses covered flights, lodging and miscellaneous expenses.
Those with questions about the student exchange program between Arlington and Nagaokakyo can email Program Manager Joanne Routenberg here >>
Read more information about the April visit from the Nagaokakyo delegation and students here >>
May 7, 2024: Arlington again recognized by Arbor Day Foundation
This news feature was published Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, based on information from Public Information Officer Joan Roman, APS Superintendent Elizabeth Homan and Director of Communications Weslie Etienne Pierre.
