The Japan - Delaware Connection

Many people are unaware of the special connection that Delaware has to Japan. For those who may not know, Miyagi, Japan is the sister state of Delaware and its’ capital Sendai, is the sister city of our capital, Dover.

This relationship began in 1997 when former Governor Tom Carper visited Miyagi Prefecture and Miyagi and Delaware became official sister states.

In 2007 former Governor of Miyagi Yoshihiro Murai visited Delaware commemorating the 10 year anniversary of their sister state relationship.

Following the aftermath of the 2011 “Great East Japan Earthquake,” former Governor Jack Markell established the Delaware Fund for Miyagi, Japan and Delaware’s Secretary of State traveled to Miyagi to deliver the funds that had been raised and visited areas that had been affected by the disaster.

Additional events have taken place since 2011 which continue to strengthen and renew Delaware’s relationship with Miyagi. I personally believe that now is the perfect time for Delaware residents to create direct relationships with the citizens of Miyagi, further developing our sister state relationship.

My hope is that through this first step of Delaware’s Japanese Language Lab, more residents will be motivated to explore our unique connection to Japan and help to grow the relationship further.