Walla Walla Sister City Committee

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Walla Walla Sister City Committee

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Walla Walla’s committee page for the Walla Walla Tamba Sasayama sister city exchange

10/27/2026

After 30 hours of travel, our 2026 student delegation made it back to Walla Walla early this morning. Thank you once again to our amazing friends in Tambasasayama for providing such an amazing experience for this group. We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful sister city.

10/25/2026

Today, our delegation celebrated their final day in Tambasasayama with a farewell party before heading home to Walla Walla tomorrow morning. Our chaperones and students each shared heartfelt speeches, expressing their gratitude to their host families and the Sister City Committee for making this such a wonderful and memorable experience.

After nearly two weeks of cultural exchange, new friendships, and unforgettable experiences, it was an emotional opportunity to reflect on everything our students have learned and the connections they have made. We hope these friendships will continue long after the students return home.

A heartfelt thank you to our host families, the Tambasasayama Sister City Committee, and representatives from the City of Tambasasayama for welcoming our delegation so warmly and creating such a meaningful experience for our Walla Walla students. Your generosity, hospitality, and commitment to our sister city relationship make this exchange possible year after year.

As our delegation prepares to return home, we leave with wonderful memories, deeper cultural understanding, and friendships that span the Pacific. Thank you, Tambasasayama, for making us feel so at home. We look forward to the next chapter in our sister city friendship! 🇯🇵❤️🇺🇸

10/23/2026

For our final group activity on Friday, the delegation visited Samurai Jeans, a Japanese company that produces and distributes denim throughout Japan using its own locally grown and sourced organic cotton.

The students began by dyeing their own bandanas before heading out into the cotton field for a hands-on experience picking cotton themselves! It was a unique opportunity to learn more about the journey from raw cotton to finished denim and to experience another aspect of Japanese craftsmanship and local industry.

What a memorable way to wrap up our delegation’s final group activities in Tambasasayama!

Thank you very much to our Sister City Committee members who put together such a wonderful week of activities for our group!

10/23/2026

Day 8 in Tambasasayama 🇯🇵

Friday morning marked the beginning of our delegation’s final day of group activities in Tambasasayama! The students began their day at Joyen Elementary School, where they once again shared their group presentation about life in Walla Walla and the Pacific Northwest.

After their presentation, our students joined in classroom activities, enjoyed lunch with their Japanese peers, and participated in a traditional Japanese calligraphy lesson. A few of our students even volunteered to help serve lunch, embracing another opportunity to experience everyday school life in Japan.

This afternoon, the delegation will visit Oojiyama Shrine and enjoy a little downtown shopping before returning to their host families for their final weekend together. After a busy week of cultural experiences, new friendships, and shared discoveries, this weekend is a special opportunity for students to spend a little more time with the families who have welcomed them into their homes.

As our group activities come to a close, we’re grateful for the schools, teachers, committee members, government officials, and community members of Tambasasayama who have made this exchange so memorable. These experiences are building connections that reach far beyond the classroom and strengthen the friendship between our sister cities. 💙❤️

10/22/2026

🌱🥢 Day 7 in Tambasasayama - A Taste of Japanese Life!

On Thursday, our Walla Walla delegation got hands-on with Japanese food and culture! The morning began with harvesting fresh edamame, giving our students a chance to experience a little of the work behind one of Japan’s favorite foods.

Just as Walla Walla is famous for its sweet onions, Tamba-Sasayama is known for its prized black soybean edamame—a local agricultural specialty deeply connected to the region’s identity and traditions. Both communities take pride in the distinctive crops grown in their own soil, making this morning’s harvest a wonderful reminder of the ways our communities are alike, even across the ocean. 🌱�

Next they put on their chef’s hats for a cooking class, preparing their own bento box lunches to enjoy together. 🍱

After lunch, the delegation headed to the third high school of our journey, where students continued building connections with their Japanese peers and experiencing everyday school life in Japan.

From the farm to the kitchen to the classroom, each day brings new opportunities to learn, share, and discover how much we have in common—even across the ocean. 🇯🇵❤️🇺🇸

10/21/2026

🇯🇵 Wednesday at Homei High School: A Day of Learning and Friendship

Our Walla Walla delegation spent the entire day at Homei High School, where each of our students was paired with a Japanese friend and joined them for all of their classes. From experiencing the rhythm of a typical school day, to a traditional Japanese high school lunch, to learning alongside their peers, our students gained a firsthand glimpse into daily life in a Japanese high school.

For some, the day was especially meaningful, as they were reunited with students who had hosted them in Walla Walla last March! It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, pick up where they left off, and continue building friendships across the miles.

At the end of the day, our Walla Walla students gave a group presentation about life in the Pacific Northwest. Their presentation sparked a thoughtful discussion about the similarities and differences between our two cultures, reminding us that while our daily routines and traditions may differ, we share so much in common.

These shared experiences are at the heart of our Sister City exchange—building understanding, celebrating our differences, and creating friendships that reach across the world. 🌏❤️🇺🇸🇯🇵

10/20/2026

Tuesday afternoon, our delegation visited a local Buddhist temple, where they had the opportunity to experience the beauty and tranquility of Buddhist traditions. They participated a traditional ceremony and then zazen, or seated meditation, taking a quiet moment to slow down, be present, and reflect. It was a meaningful opportunity to experience another aspect of Japanese culture and spirituality firsthand, deepening their understanding of the traditions that have shaped this community for generations.

10/20/2026

🇯🇵 Day Five in Tamba-Sasayama: Samurai, Community & Local Flavors!

Our delegation continued exploring the history and culture of Tamba-Sasayama on Tuesday morning with a visit to the local fire station, where students learned more about the important role these community heroes play in keeping residents safe.

The group then stepped back in time at Sasayama Castle, where history came to life! 🏯 Students explored this historic landmark and had the special opportunity to dress up in replica samurai armor and traditional historical kimono. It was a wonderful way to connect with Japan’s past and imagine what life might have been like centuries ago. The delegation also observed traditional samurai residences, gaining a glimpse into the architecture and daily lives of the people who once called this castle town home.

For lunch, everyone sampled a local delicacy: wild boar curry! 🐗🍛 This hearty regional dish reflects Tamba-Sasayama’s distinctive food culture and connection to the surrounding countryside.

10/20/2026

Monday after lunch our student delegation visited the Tamba Gateway Center and explored the region’s remarkable pottery heritage, including an ancient kiln that offers a glimpse into centuries of traditional craftsmanship.

Tamba ware, known as Tamba-Tachikui-yaki, is one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns, with a pottery tradition dating back approximately 800 years. For generations, local artisans have worked with the region’s natural clay and distinctive firing techniques to create pottery that is both functional and beautiful. The traditional climbing kilns, built into hillsides, use the slope to help manage the fire and heat across multiple chambers. The results are uniquely shaped and colored by the flames, ash, and minerals—a beautiful reminder that this art combines both human skill and the natural elements.

After learning about this history, the students had the opportunity to try pottery themselves, experiencing firsthand the patience and creativity required to shape clay into something lasting.

The afternoon continued with a visit to a traditional katana workshop, where the students observed a master swordsmith practicing his extraordinary craft. His dedication to preserving this ancient art was truly inspiring. Before he was permitted to begin learning the craft himself, he spent 15 years as an apprentice—a remarkable testament to the patience, discipline, and devotion required to master this art.

From shaping clay to witnessing the forging of a katana, our students experienced firsthand how Japanese traditions are preserved through generations of skill, dedication, and pride.

Experiences like these make international exchanges so meaningful, building connections through culture, history, and a deeper appreciation for the traditions that make each community unique. ❤️🇯🇵🇺🇸

10/19/2026

A huge thank-you to Red Monkey Walla Walla for generously donating T-shirts as gifts for our wonderful hosts and tour guides during our Sister City delegation’s visit to Tambasasayama, Japan.
Our Sister City exchange is about so much more than travel. It’s about building friendships, celebrating the people who bring our communities together, and creating connections that cross oceans and cultures. Thanks to The Red Monkey, we were able to share a little piece of our hometown with the people who have made our visit so special.
We’re grateful for local businesses that help make these connections possible and remind us that community spirit has no borders. ❤

Address

PO Box 2486
Walla Walla, WA
99362

Website

https://wwjapansistercity.org/

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